“He was such a fantastic person and a mentor to a lot of us,” said Fire Chief Brandon Smith.

A beloved former fire chief and charter member of the Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department, Panezott was honored Wednesday with a walk-through, with Perry Township joined in mourning by other local fire departments including Salem and Damascus. After the service, the Perry Township department participated in Panezott’s funeral procession from Stark Memorial Funeral Home to Highland Memorial Park for a graveside service beneath an American flag suspended from the Salem Fire Department’s ladder truck.

A Salem native and 1986 Salem High School alumnus, Panezott served with the department for 36 years and eight months from the time of its founding on Jan. 1, 1988, until September 2024. However, even after his retirement, Panezott remained a consistent and deeply valued part of the department.

“Even though he retired back in September of last year he still came to our association meetings, participated in events like the pancake breakfast, still came out to the trainings and gave his input to the younger generation. He was still very much part of this department even retired,” said Smith.

Multiple local fire departments came together to honor recently departed former Perry Township Fire Chief Phil Panezott Wednesday. The Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department participated in his funeral procession, escorting him to his final resting place and the Salem Fire Department hung an American flag in his honor with its ladder truck. (Photos by Morgan Ahart)

During his tenure with the department, Panezott served in many capacities including firefighter and EMT, and as a captain, assistant fire chief and fire chief. He was also a leader within the department’s firefighter’s association where he served as a trustee, vice president and president.