John Balkevitch: Widower, 81, dies after running back inside his burning Michigan home to save his rescue dog

ROSEVILLE, MICHIGAN: An 81-year-old widower tragically lost his life on Saturday, January 20, after he ran back inside his burning Michigan home to try to save his beloved rescue dog, Lexi. According to ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV and The Macomb Daily, John Balkevitch and his dog Lexi died after the fire in Roseville broke out in the morning. 

Neighbor Jackie Chaviz told The Macomb Daily that there was a large explosion that caused other residents to leave their homes. The house filled with smoke within seconds before bursting into flames. "We heard that sound and John ran outside," she told the paper, adding "He must have realized his dog was still in the house, so he went back into get the dog. He didn’t come back out.”

Several neighbors tried to save John Balkevitch

John's neighbor Jeremy Skobler told WXYZ-TV that he and others tried to save the man. Fox affiliate WJBK-TV and The Macomb Daily reported that a DoorDash delivery driver was among the good Samaritans. However, a rescue proved impossible. "I couldn’t even get into the house, it was so smoke-filled," Skobler told WXYZ-TV.

John Balkevitch's daughter said that the rescue dog Lexi was his world

"He went in for his dog. That dog was his world. He loved her so much," Balkevitch's daughter Stacie Krause said. Krause also added that she's not surprised her selfless father ran back into the home to attempt to save Lexie, but it still hurts to lose him.

She told WXYZ-TV that the family is a "wreck" following his death. "It's one of those [things] you prepare for, your parents passing one day," she told the outlet, adding "But you don’t prepare for them passing like this.”

According to the report, the home has been reduced to debris. A Christmas tree, some family photos and a memorial plaque honoring his wife, who died in 2020, remain. However, the family had not been able to find her ashes. It's unclear what caused the fire at this time. An investigation is ongoing, as per WXYZ-TV and The Macomb Daily.

A GoFundMe has been launched for John Balkevitch's funeral expenses

A GoFundMe campaign launched to help with funeral expenses shared a Facebook message from John's other daughter Kimberly. "My dad loved all of his furbabies," she wrote in part. Kimberly added that she'll "miss our walks & talks of life. He always had my back and I will miss that." "May you rest easy Dad," wrote Kimberly," adding "and I pray you found peace."