Christopher Kube laid to rest

As a youngster, Christopher David Allen Kube served as an altar boy at St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church in Shelby Township.

As a young man, he served America as a soldier in the U.S. Army. In that role, U.S. Army Spec. Kube sacrificed his life.

On Monday, friends, family members and strangers gathered at the same church where Kube used to assist during Mass to pay respect to the 18-year-old, killed earlier this month in Iraq.

"A time to say goodbye to someone who has truly touched our lives is most difficult, particularly when one is so young," the Rev. Drew Tomasko told those gathered for Kube's funeral.

"(But Kube) would not want us to be sad. He'd want us to be happy."

Kube was killed July 14 when an improvised explosive device detonated near a vehicle in which he rode. He was sent to Iraq last October.

"Whatever anybody thinks about our policy, nobody can question the bravery of these young people," said U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, who attended the funeral service.

The Rev. Tomasko told mourners of a young man whose small stature led him to be the target of teasing as a youth. But that didn't stop Kube from pursuing a goal of one day joining the Army.

"(Kube) was not a very big man," Tomasko said. "He was a little fellow. But he sure did have a big heart. When he became old enough, he wanted to serve his nation."

Kube, who would have turned 19 on Sept. 7, enlisted in the Army with his parents' permission at age 17.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, based at Fort Collins, Colo. While in Colorado, he met and married his wife, Tianna.

In addition to his wife, Kube leaves his parents, Deborah Krupski and David (Krista) Kube; siblings, Jonathan, Jason, Jessica and Jennifer; and grandparents, Virginia Krupski, Jean Kube and Donald (Sue) Kube.

Kube was buried Monday at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly.

Kube is the third Shelby Township resident and eighth person from Macomb County to die in Iraq. Among those present to pay respects to the fallen soldier were Shelby Township residents Kim and Angie Barbret, whose son, Mark, was the first soldier from Macomb County to fall in Iraq.

"Another tragedy," Kim Barbret said before the service. "I hope it's the last one."

From the Macomb Daily

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