Services were held on Friday for retired Peoria (Arizona) Fire-Medical Department Capt. David Rehnke, who died Jan. 11 after a 10-year battle with work-related cancer.

Rehnke was instrumental in raising awareness of fire-related health problems that helped make changes for cities and departments across the country.

The Rehnke family has ties to North Dakota. David Rehnke’s wife, Brenda (nee Johansen), is from Ryder. They have a son and daughter, Shannon and Dustin.

“Dave fought for every firefighter in Arizona to work smarter and safer and to be covered by Arizona’s presumptive cancer statute,” Mario Bravo, a department spokesman said in The Peoria Times.

Services were Friday at the Peoria Sports Complex and at the Greenwood Cemetery in Phoenix.