John McNelis became interested in a career in the fire service to be able to serve others. He began his career with Barstow Fire Protection District as a Firefighter/Paramedic and rose through the ranks to Captain and embodied the finest qualities of a firefighter. John loved all sports but none more than his beloved Dodgers. He was a dedicated family man. John passed away from job-related cancer in December 2022. He is survived by his wife and three children.