Jon Durst, a New Glarus resident and longtime paramedic with the City of Madison Fire Department, retired Saturday after a career defined by service, compassion and deep ties to his hometown.

Durst spent much of the past 17 years responding to emergencies on Madison’s southwest side, primarily assigned to Medic 7 out of Fire Station 7 on McKenna Boulevard. His final shift marked the end of a career that began years earlier in New Glarus, where mentors, neighbors and community pride first pointed him toward the fire service.