Libertyville soldier's funeral brings remembrance, awareness

Sgt. Daniel Nerstrom was knocked unconscious by bombs eight times during his 12-month deployment in Iraq from 2005 to 2006.

Suffering from relentless migraines and the memories of losing 44 colleagues, Nerstrom committed suicide at some point after his Dec. 1 disappearance.

More than 100 friends, family and complete strangers attended Nerstrom's funeral Saturday in north suburban Libertyville, about a week after police found his body.

Nerstrom, 31, was remembered as an enthusiast of Lego blocks and as a recreational welder. He also was credited with being a devout family man.

While deployed as a scout with the Army's Third Armored Regiment, Nerstrom was able to get home for a few days and donate stem cells to help his father, Douglas, beat cancer.

Serving his country was a dream, according to Nerstrom's mother, Kim. She asked him to go to college first, but caved after one year and gave her blessing. She said he watched the news with a burning passion, and she couldn't deny him any longer.

Nerstrom was given a medical discharge from the Army in January 2009. He had been stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colo., during the years after his tour in Iraq.

In her eulogy, the Rev. Janet Lee Kraft said Nerstrom struggled with his post-war injuries for years before he disappeared. She said he turned to alcohol for a while but quit when a counselor prescribed animal therapy.

"Daniel deserved better," Kim Nerstrom said. "This shouldn't have happened. He loved his country. His country shouldn't let things like this happen."

Police found Nerstrom's body around 10 a.m. March 13 along the Metra tracks east of downtown Libertyville after a train passenger noticed something unusual outside his window.

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Libertyville soldier's funeral brings remembrance, awareness