Christopher Ryan Steitz

Christopher Ryan Steitz was born at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado on November 25, 1982. He was the son of Daniel Steitz & Carol (Gall) Steitz. He was baptized on December 23, 1982. He was raised in Aurora, Colorado and graduated from Rangeview High School with high academic honors in 2001. He was a member of the National Honor Society. He enjoyed working and playing soccer. He was appointed to the United States Air Force Academy by U.S. Congressman Tom Tancrado, and joined the "George S. Patton, Jr" Class of 2005. He excelled at the Academy and graduated with academic distinction on June 1, 2005, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Area Studies and a minor in Arabic. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force. While at the Academy, he earned his private pilot license, was a glider instructor pilot, and a member of the Soccer team. He was selected for the U.S. Air force Euro-Nato Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) program and assigned to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. He excelled during his training and was scheduled to graduate from that program on November 9, 2006. He was critically injured in a car accident on September 22, 2006. He fought a courageous battle, but succumbed to those injuries on November 17, 2006, and went to be with the Lord. He was 23 years old. He is survived by his father, mother, and sister Katelynn of Aurora, Colorado, and countless friends throughout the world. He was a life-long member of Peace with Christ Lutheran Church in Aurora, Colorado.