Retired Peoria fire captain dies after 10-year battle with occupational cancer

PHOENIX — A retired Peoria fire captain has died after a 10-year battle with occupational cancer, the department announced Tuesday.

David Rehnke was fighting Renal Cell Carcinoma, the most common form of kidney cancer found in adults, prior to his death.

Since his death was caused by occupational cancer, it is considered a line-of-duty death.

“Losing Dave we lost a great person and a beloved family man,” Peoria Fire-Medical Department said in a press release.

Rehnke was hired in Peoria 1989, promoted to engineer in 1996 and served as captain from 2008 until his retirement in 2015.

Rehnke was also vocal in the fight for protections for firefighters in Arizona who have occupational cancer.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Brenda, his daughter Shannon and his son Dustin.

Rehnke’s family has requested donations go to the Firefighters Cancer Awareness Support Network in lieu of flowers.

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