Chief Bouma started with the Waukegan Fire Department on 10/2/1978 as a firefighter /paramedic. He progressed to the rank of Captain retiring on October 2, 1999. Chief Bouma became the Chief of the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department on October 2, 1999.

Over the course of his career at Mt. Pleasant, the department consolidated with Sturtevant Fire Department on January 1, 2009, and he became the first Chief of the South Shore Fire Department (consolidation of Mt. Pleasant and Sturtevant Fire Departments). He retired on October 4, 2012. Two of Chief Bouma’s most significant accomplishments were his involvement in the Wisconsin Area burn camp and the development of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS)

He is survived by his wife Sue and their two sons, Michael Hansen and Kenneth Bouma, and grandchildren, Autumn, Bailey, and Carley Hansen, and their mothers Cristy Hansen and Jessica Hansen.