Kevin, Susan's Boy

Kevin Daniel Ernst died unexpectedly and much too soon at the age of 31 on Monday, May 28th, 2018.

Kevin was born in Madison, WI, on December 23, 1986. While growing up he played the viola and loved football and soccer and was an easy-A student when he put his mind to it. 

After high school, Kevin joined the Army. In 2006 he went for basic training at Ft. Jackson in Columbia, SC. He was stationed at Ft. Riley in Kansas with the 1st Infantry Division and served one tour of duty in Iraq. He was later stationed at Ft. Belvoir, Fairfax County, VA, and at Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, HI, with the 25th Infantry Division. While serving in the Army, he attained the rank of Sergeant. 

After the Army, Kevin settled in the Baltimore area and married Tiffany Reeves who blessed him with a beloved son. Mark Christian was the light of Kevin’s life.

Kevin was bright, focused, determined, and hardworking. Kevin had a huge, beautiful smile, a contagious laugh, and an even bigger heart. He lived and loved intensely, with all his soul. Kevin put his family first and cared so genuinely about others, always making those he was around feel important.  He was funny, engaging, and continuously driven to be the best version of himself, even in the face of adversity.  

As I remember, it was during middle school when Kevin started using marijuana and alcohol, and he almost left high school because of it – all he wanted to do was smoke. We got him into an outpatient program, but he never really took it seriously and progressed to using painkillers. Once he told me that he had “tried everything” out of curiosity. He ultimately got hooked on heroin and died of an accidental  fentanyl overdose after being sober for about 18 months.

Kevin will never be forgotten. We love him and miss him dearly

Say his name. Kevin, Forever 31. 

Susan, Kevin’s Mother