LUSK - Johnny Krein recently celebrated his retirement from the Lusk-Niobrara Ambulance Service as a volunteer ambulance driver. After 19 years, Krein decided he wanted to retire and enjoy his time camping.

Krein told the Herald he had started as an ambulance driver in 2005.

“Rhonda Holdbrook had called me one day and asked if I would drive for the ambulance,” Krein said. “At the time, she [Holdbrook] was on the ambulance and she told me that they really needed drivers and asked if I would do that.”

“It would have been 20 years in March, but I decided I wanted to go south for the winter,” Krein told the Herald. “I really enjoyed driving for the ambulance service. I did like it, but I wanted to enjoy camping.”

Lusk-Niobrara Ambulance Director Mike Mayville and the EMTs threw Krein a retirement party last week. During the party, Krein received a send-off with a new jacket, plaque and cards saying thanking him for his service.

“Dedication like Johnny’s is hard to replace. He knew where everything is in our service area. If an address was unfamiliar, he would get a name from dispatch and off we’d go. His retirement is well-deserved, but he will be missed,” Mayville said.

Krein will be enjoying his retirement with a camper he bought from his son. He has already driven to Arizona and is parked at his niece’s home. Krein is planning a summer visit to Washington state to see his grandson and, then later, to visit with family in North Dakota.

“I am looking forward to traveling and spending time with my family,” Krein said.