Brian Fleming was a Springfield City firefighter, a U.S. Navy Intelligence Officer, and most importantly, a husband and father of three.

"Me & dad were fishes - no, really - when me and dad would get in the water we'd grow fins - well, almost," said Fleming's daughter Taylor, 7.

Fleming, 39, of 4269 Detrick-Jordan Pike, died early Sunday morning after he had congestive heart failure at his home. He was pronounced dead at Mercy Medical Center.

An active duty firefighter for the Springfield City Fire and Rescue Division for nine years, Fleming was off duty for about a day when he had the heart attack. He had no known medical conditions.

"I think the majority of us are pretty devastated by this loss - so unexpected - especially someone in so good a condition as he was and so active,"said Pat Casey, president of the Springfield Professional Firefighters Local 333.

Fleming worked at Station No. 3 on Selma Road and spent every third day at the firehouse. Unlike many of the other Springfield firefighters, Fleming did not have a second job, Casey said. Fleming chose to spend the downtime time with his family instead. "He was extremely proud of his children," Casey said. That's probably the one thing he valued most in life."

Angie Fleming said she will miss the way her husband interacted with their children - especially his imagination.

Brian Fleming used to make up fantasy stories to tell his daughters, Taylor and Peyton, 4, before bed. He also gave his daughters and son, Cody, 2, "camel-back" rides on their way to bed each night.

Taylor Fleming said her father taught her about math, how to write and how to read, but he also taught her other skills. "He's taught me tons of stuff - mainly wrestling though. He taught me lots of moves," she said.

An active member of First Christian Church, 313 W, High St., and a member of the Springfield firefighters' softball team, Brian Fleming also loved the ocean, Angie Fleming said. Fleming grew up in Virginia Beach, Va., where his parents still live and his family vacationed just last week.

He also loved reading, espically history books, and had more than 3,200 books displayed in his basement, his wife said.

Fleming - better known to his friends as Buckshot - earned his nickname after telling co-workers about being shot in the yard of his first Springfield home on the south side of the city. "It hit him in the rear", fellow firefighter Matt Davis said. Co-workers also called Fleming "slippers man" when he would slide on his fuzzy slippers and shuffle around the firehouse. "When you work with somebody for 24 hours a day, it is like losing a brother," Davis said.

Springfield Fire Chief Mike Beers went from station to station Monday morning to help the firefighters cope with the loss of a teammate. "They see this day in and day out, but it affects somone else," he said, adding that when it is someone the firefighters are close to it gives them perspective about their jobs.

Jones Kenney Zechman Furneral Home will handle the arrangements. Visitation for Fleming will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church. The firefighters turnout will begin at 5 p.m. at the church.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church with Pastor Dale Holzbauer officiating.

Co-workers set up "The Fleming Children Fund" at Securty National Bank, and donations may be made at any branch.