Pentwater fire captain John Sayles dies

PENTWATER — The area lost a well-known citizen last night after John Sayles died. John was 38-years-old and leaves behind his wife, Melanie, and their three young daughters.

John was a captain on the Pentwater Fire Department and was active in the Western Michigan Old Engine Club. He often drove the club’s 1920’s LaFrance fire truck in parades.

According to Nick Lascari, who once served with John on the department, John was changing a tire last night around 6 p.m. when he started complaining of chest pain. He called the ambulance which brought him to a Muskegon hospital. He was then transported to Grand Rapids where he was to undergo open heart surgery for an aortic aneurysm. Lascari said John died in the ambulance en-route to Grand Rapids.