Hundreds of citizens and uniformed soldiers gathered inside to honor the slain Iowa Army National Guardsman, who was killed in an ISIS terrorist attack in Palmyra, Syria, on Dec. 13.

The weather outside was overcast and gloomy, matching the feeling of the mourners gathered for the ceremony. The Rev. Kerry Jech of New Hope Church and Army Chaplain Steve DeHaan, who officiated the ceremonies, shared memories and stories.

DeHaan said he got to see how much love Howard had for life and his family.

“His family was one who led him to want to serve, to serve in a way that he was willing to go where the Army sent him, whether that was to Kosovo or to Syria,” he said. “He loved his military family to the point that he wanted to make sure that he was well prepared and trained, and his team was well prepared and trained.”

-Photo by Lana Bradstream/Times-Republican
Soldiers fire a 21-gun salute at the end of the funeral service for Staff Sgt. William Nathaniel “Nate” Howard. He was one of two Iowa Army National Guard soldiers killed in action in Syria on Dec. 13.

DeHaan spoke briefly of Howard’s unique sense of humor. During a run, Howard wanted to make sure he was well trained, and suggested, with a smile, he start with a bear crawl.

“So we gather as God’s people and family and community members, as those who love Nate’s family and his military family, gather to honor his sacrifice,” DeHaan said. “Because he loved us so much he was willing to go in harm’s way.”

Speaking to Howard’s family, he said it cannot be expressed how much Howard meant to people, which is why so many attended the funeral. DeHaan encouraged everyone to share stories of Howard, of who he was and how much he meant, because his life mattered.

The song “Be Here Long” by Needtobreathe played before Jech spoke. He said Howard’s parents, Brian Howard and Misty Bunn, did not realize how much their lives would change when he was born on Aug. 14, 1996. Many would agree Howard was a gentleman, a conscientious citizen, a loving husband, model soldier and more, and Jech thanked his parents for raising him so well.

While the memory was from a long time ago, Jech recalled often seeing a huge smile on Howard’s face.

“I wasn’t always sure — was he really happy about something or was he up to something mischievous that he probably shouldn’t have been?” he recalled.

At an early age, Howard dreamed of serving in the military.

“Misty said there were two things that made Nate smile — Arianna and guns,” he said, drawing small amounts of laughter. “The larger the gun, the bigger the smile. As a teacher to his fellow soldiers on guns, sometimes he would just say, ‘Listen. Would you like to go out, shoot and blow things up instead of learning about it?’ and they were all for it.”

Jech spoke to Arianna, Howard’s wife, telling her she was his world.

“Like every good woman, you not only completed Nate, you helped him become a better man,” he told her. “Make no mistake. Nate loved the Army and his Army buddies. They were a tight-knit group who had each other’s back, but coming home to you was always on his mind.”

Jech remembered a T-shirt Howard wore with the Bible verses John 15:18-19, in which Jesus tells his disciples that if the world hates them, remember the world hated Him first. If they were part of the world, they would be loved, but He chose them to separate from the world, which causes animosity.

Jesus came to the world to show love and Satan spreads disdain by convincing people to hate, covet and steal, to murder those who have what they want or disagree with.

“We are blessed to have American military forces stationed in various places throughout the world,” Jech said. “These brave and courageous soldiers willingly volunteer to protect American citizens by standing up to evil. I think it would be appropriate to honor and thank them.”

He asked for current and former military and law enforcement, who were peppered throughout those attending, to stand and be thanked with a round of applause. Howard’s death is a reminder that evil, hatred, chaos and wickedness are prevalent in the world. Jech asked where it comes from, and answered it comes from within people.

“Every decision we make has a consequence, every choice is a crossroads at which we either choose wisely based on God’s truths or choose foolishly based on Satan’s lies,” he said. “The wickedness and evil around us will never be solved … because evil is a spiritual issue.”

Howard’s physical life was taken from him two weeks ago by a spiritually dark and evil person, who belonged to a terrorist group, Jech said. Despite the evil intentions of men, God has demonstrated unfathomable love through the people at Howard’s funeral.

“You have lit up Arianna’s life and that of her family, of Nate’s family through many acts of kindness,” he told those gathered. “By your presence here today, you are the love of God making a statement to an evil world. God’s love is stronger than man’s faith, that God’s love will conquer man’s wickedness, that God’s love will someday victoriously reign over man’s evil.”

Jech said he did not know why some people survive car accidents or cancer or war and others do not.

“What I am 100 percent sure of is this — Jesus Christ conquered death,” he said. “It is a verifiable fact that Jesus lived. He was crucified and rose from the grave. The Bible tells us that when a believer dies, when they take their last breath here on earth, their soul immediately goes to be in the presence of the Lord. You don’t have to believe that today, but here’s a fact — Nathan believed it.

“It was a long time ago when Howard first made his commitment to Jesus, but he made it,” Jech added. “Yes, he was a great young man, a great husband, a great brother, a great son, a great soldier. Did Nate live a perfectly sinless and moral life? No, as none of us do.

“The only one who did, died for us so we might live,” Jech said. “Howard’s life was changed from the inside out because of his faith in Jesus Christ.”

Following the service, there was a 21-gun salute outside of the Roundhouse. A heavy silence fell in the cold, bleak weather as Howard’s casket was solemnly carried to the hearse for transport and his family and loved ones watched as the vehicle door closed.