A 92-year-old Warren County man died of apparent smoke inhalation in a fire that destroyed his home south of Wright City. William Hartwig was pronounced dead around 6 p.m. Friday, April 16, by Warren County Coroner Roger Mauzy. Several fire departments responded around 4:35 p.m. to the two-story home located off Stamer Road and Highway F. Hartwig's body was recovered on the first floor in the kitchen, believed to be where the fire originated, according to Wright City Fire Chief Ron MacKnight. A cause has yet to be determined, MacKnight said. The state's fire marshal was at the scene Tuesday and continues to investigate. Mauzy said the preliminary findings of an autopsy conducted over the weekend revealed Hartwig died of smoke inhalation. Larry Hartwig, who lives just a half-mile from the residence, said he visited his father every evening and fixed him dinner. When he came to visit Friday, he noticed smoke coming from the structure but said flames only became visible once he opened the back door. He then kicked in the front door and tried to crawl through the house until the conditions forced him to exit. "It was terrible smoke," Larry Hartwig said. "You couldn't breathe." MacKnight said the first firefighters on the scene made multiple attempts to make an "aggressive" search of the first floor to locate Hartwig, but were pushed back as well. "We kept getting driven out from the heat," MacKnight said. "The conditions kept getting worse." Due to the home being destroyed, MacKnight said it was unsure if the home had working smoke detectors, if any, to alert Hartwig to the fire. Crews were able to retrieve Hartwig's body once the flames were under control. "It was a tough, stubborn fire," MacKnight said. The home was built in 1861 and Hartwig had lived there since 1959, according to his son. A lifetime farmer, he is survived by three children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. "I will always remember the stories that he told and the love of his grandkids," Larry Hartwig said while choking back tears. Around a couple of years ago, he recalled a story when his father bought a mule to ride around the property with his great-grandkids and watch over the cattle. "The grandkids were first," Larry Hartwig said. "The mule was second." Funeral services for Hartwig were held Wednesday with burial following at Wright City Cemetery. The family asked for donations to be made to Immanuel United Church of Christ in Wright City or to the Wright City Cemetery fund. Pitman Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Other departments that responded to the fire or provided assistance included Warrenton, Marthasville, Wentzville, Lincoln County, Hawk Point, O'Fallon, Lake Saint Louis, Jonesburg and Old Monroe. Crews were on the scene to around 11 p.m. One Wright City firefighter suffered a dislocated shoulder and had to be transported to the hospital when a portion of the roof collapsed on him.