An old red caboose that served as a residence caught fire early Saturday afternoon just north of Columbia in rural St. Clair County and resulted in the death of a Vietnam veteran who proudly called it home. 

The Columbia Volunteer Fire Department responded about 12:30 p.m. to a fully involved structure fire in the 1200 block of Mule Road. Heavy smoke could be seen from a distance as firefighters rushed to the scene. 

The structure – a Missouri Pacific Lines caboose that was converted into living quarters and had been used in that capacity for decades – was a total loss. 

Firefighters learned upon arrival that the residence was occupied at the time of the blaze, but the flames and smoke were too strong to safely enter the structure. 

A coroner’s official was  eventually requested to the scene. 

The victim was identified by St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. as Robert K. “Kenny” Euge, 75. 

Assisting the CVFD at the scene were the Prairie du Pont, Millstadt and Dupo fire departments, Columbia EMS, Columbia Police Department and St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department. 

The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s office was contacted to lead an official investigation into the fire.

There was no indication of a cause of this fire as of press time.

According to his obituary as published by Leesman Funeral Homes, Euge was an accomplished sculpture artist and was a retired switchman from the Terminal Railroad. 

The obituary also states that in 2009, Euge was presented the Presidential Unit Citation as part of Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Calvary Regiment by President Barack Obama in the Rose Garden of the White House for his service in Vietnam.

The Belleville News-Democrat ran an article on Euge prior to his receiving that honor. In that article, Euge said he discovered his passion for sculptures as a soldier in Vietnam. It was his therapy for the post-traumatic stress disorder he brought home from the war, the article stated. 

The BND article also stated that Euge faced a battle at that time with St. Clair County zoning officials about his unique caboose home after it had become the subject of complaints. 

Through that ordeal, Euge and his caboose remained. His property also contained vehicles and pieces of art he’d created from items found in landfills and junkyards. 

Euge told the BND that ever since Vietnam, he had felt “discarded.”

With his sculptures, Euge told the BND, “I want to show the world that even discarded things can be beautiful.”

Dupo American Legion Post 485 paid tribute to Euge upon his passing, posting “Rest easy, brother Kenny” on its Facebook page.

A private burial with full military honors will take place for Euge at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis County.

The family requests memorial contributions be made in Euge’s honor to the Wounded Warrior Project, 230 W. Monroe Street, Ste. 200, Chicago, IL 60606.

For Euge’s full obituary, click here.