45Colt_Man
Blackhawk
On the 20th of July our oldest son passed away. He went doing what he loved, spending time with his son. Chris was 37 years old and died of a massive heart attack while riding bicycles with his son Garret.
Chris has been a member of the Wyoming National Guard since 1998. Did two tours in Iraq and at the time of his death was a HIMARS Section Chief. He owned his own business WYO-Hydrographics and had an FFL. For the past three years he was employed as a Wyoming Veterans Outreach & Advocacy Program advocate, until state budget cuts terminated his job. He had just accepted a position as a Veterans Advocate with another agency and was scheduled to leave the following Sunday for training in Oklahoma.
He leaves behind his parents two older sisters and a younger brother, his son a wife and step-son.
We had a Memorial service for him last Saturday, and couldn't have asked for a better service. The Patriot Guard Riders posted 23 flag bearing members who stood in the 100 degree heat outside the funeral home. We had the same minister who married Chris and Emily do the officiating, followed by the Military Service. Major General Reiner of the Wyoming Military Department attended and participated. Chris was posthumously awarded a medal at the services. I think it was a meritorious service award but am not sure his wife has it.
This may have been a blessing in disguise as the autopsy found he also had kidney cancer along with his enlarged heart.
The night before Chris and Garret were here for their weekly Tuesday Taco night so we have memories of his last supper.
Thanks for letting me share this information, we will miss him greatly but have 37 years worth of pictures and memories to help us through it.
Dana
Edited to add
We live in a small community with only a weekly newspaper. The day Chris died the newspaper came out with an article on his Veterans Advocacy role and work he had been doing. Chris never got a chance to read it.
Chris has been a member of the Wyoming National Guard since 1998. Did two tours in Iraq and at the time of his death was a HIMARS Section Chief. He owned his own business WYO-Hydrographics and had an FFL. For the past three years he was employed as a Wyoming Veterans Outreach & Advocacy Program advocate, until state budget cuts terminated his job. He had just accepted a position as a Veterans Advocate with another agency and was scheduled to leave the following Sunday for training in Oklahoma.
He leaves behind his parents two older sisters and a younger brother, his son a wife and step-son.
We had a Memorial service for him last Saturday, and couldn't have asked for a better service. The Patriot Guard Riders posted 23 flag bearing members who stood in the 100 degree heat outside the funeral home. We had the same minister who married Chris and Emily do the officiating, followed by the Military Service. Major General Reiner of the Wyoming Military Department attended and participated. Chris was posthumously awarded a medal at the services. I think it was a meritorious service award but am not sure his wife has it.
This may have been a blessing in disguise as the autopsy found he also had kidney cancer along with his enlarged heart.
The night before Chris and Garret were here for their weekly Tuesday Taco night so we have memories of his last supper.
Thanks for letting me share this information, we will miss him greatly but have 37 years worth of pictures and memories to help us through it.
Dana
Edited to add
We live in a small community with only a weekly newspaper. The day Chris died the newspaper came out with an article on his Veterans Advocacy role and work he had been doing. Chris never got a chance to read it.
Prayers for you, your family, and all who loved him...
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