Mourners remember McHenry soldier killed in military helicopter crash at funeral

CRYSTAL LAKE – Nearly 200 people gathered Saturday to remember the McHenry soldier who died in a military helicopter crash Dec. 2.

At Harvest Bible Church in Crystal Lake, family and friends shared testimonies of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kevin Mose Weiss, describing him as a dedicated soldier, family man and Christian.

“All of us here had a different relationship with him, but I know that whatever it was to each of you, that it was the best that it could be,” said Joe Weiss, Kevin Weiss’ brother.

Kevin Weiss, the oldest of eight children, was known to his family and friends by his middle name of “Mose,” which was the nickname of his grandfather.

He attended McHenry public schools through fourth grade, and was home-schooled until his sophomore year in high school. He then attended Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights and graduated in 2001.

Kevin Weiss joined the Army at the age of 19 and married Beth Weiss, whom he met in McHenry through the Christian group Awana, the following year. After nine years of working in intelligence, he decided to do something more adventurous, said his father, also named Kevin.

His mother, Susan Weiss, said he ended up in aviation, motivated by his grandfather, who was a pilot in World War II. Kevin Weiss went through the Army’s grueling Ranger School, and almost immediately after graduation went to flight school. He flew a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Kevin Weiss, 32, and a second pilot, were killed when the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter both were flying out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, crashed during a training exercise, according to a news release from the 101st Airborne Division based there. The cause of the Dec. 2 crash is under investigation.

Besides his wife, Weiss leaves behind two children: Lucas Mose, 6, and Susan Jane, 4.

“He always filled our home with laughter, intelligence and great conversation,” Beth Weiss said. “It was never a dull moment with him.”

She challenged everyone in attendance Saturday to be faithful spouses, active parents, great friends and neighbors, and to discover the truth of Jesus, in her husband’s honor.

Laughter and tears filled the room as Kevin Weiss’ sister, Sally; friends, Lennon Roach, James Bennett and Joey Hatcher; and parents also shared their stories of him.

Hatcher described his best friend as humorous and loyal, naming several pranks he played when he was younger and telling about the time he drove 1,000 miles to surprise Hatcher for his 18th birthday.

“Thank you for bringing some of Heaven to earth while you were here,” Hatcher said. “Thank you for the adventures, thank you for the laughs, and thank you for the joy that was and is our friendship.”

After Hatcher spoke, family videos played that Hatcher said showed his friend’s silly and adventurous sides, and his heart for flying and his family.

His mother spoke of his love for fixing things, bringing TVs and electronics in from the garbage because he wanted to see how they worked.

She and her husband also spoke of how they put their trust in Jesus that they would see their son again.

“I’m so thankful,” Susan Weiss said at the church. “I’m so thankful that Mose loved all of you, I’m so thankful that Mose loved life.”

American flags lined the exit to the church as Kevin Weiss’ casket was walked out and brought in a procession to Woodland Cemetery in McHenry. Mourners stood in the sunshine and below freezing temperatures as he was buried with full military honors.

“He was seven years older than me, and he was my hero long before he was in the military and a pilot,” Joe Weiss said at the church. “It wouldn’t have mattered what he did with his life and he would’ve been my hero. But he was a hero to everybody.”