Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christian Emile Vierthaler, 32, of Warrensburg, MO passed away April 27, 2021. Christian was born on July 7, 1988 in Dodge City, KS to Dr. Stephen and Peggy (O'Connor) Vierthaler. He graduated from Bixby High School in Bixby, OK in 2006 and attended Tulsa Community College, Tulsa, OK and Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, KS, before enlisting in the Missouri Army National Guard in 2008.

After completing Basic Training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, Christian graduated Advance Individual Training (AIT) in Fort Eustis, VA as a UH-60 Helicopter Repairer, 15T in May 2009. Upon returning to Missouri, Christian was assigned to the Detachment 1 Company C, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Company in Fort Leonard Wood, MO. In 2009, he enrolled into the Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) to obtain his Airframe & Powerplant Aircraft Mechanic Certificates in Kansas City, MO, where he met his future girlfriend, Carolann Cook. He then paused his AIM education for a military deployment.

Christian deployed to Afghanistan as a UH-60 Helicopter Repairer and Crew Chief with the Medevac Show-Me Dustoff Detachment 3, Company F, 1-169th Battalion out of Springfield, MO from November 25, 2012 through August 23, 2013.

After returning from deployment, Christian continued to serve in the 1-169th Aviation BN, while completing his education and graduating from AIM in 2014. In 2015, Christian was selected to attend flight school as a helicopter pilot for the Missouri National Guard. He attended Warrant Officer Candidate School in June of 2016, and graduated as a US Army Aviator on February 1, 2018, flying the UH-60M helicopters. He returned to serve in his current unit, Company A, 1-135th Aviation Battalion at Whiteman, Air Force Base, MO where he flew UH-60A/L helicopters and also served as a full-time contractor as the unit's ALSE officer.

A lover of all things aviation, history, fast cars, and dogs, he was a caring, selfless person who wouldn't hesitate to help someone in need. He never met a dog he didn't like or didn't like him. A special moment for Christian was accompanying his grandfather, Howard O'Connor, on a Military Honor Flight to Washington D.C. in 2009.

Christian is survived by his parents Stephen and Peggy; two brothers, Gyer, of Lee's Summit, MO and Callum of Kansas City, MO; one sister, Molly and husband, Chau Duong of Severn, MD, and their daughters Lyla and Ren; his girlfriend Carolann Cook of Kansas City, MO; Uncles and Aunts, Nancy Vierthaler of Dodge City, KS, Lyle and Donna Vierthaler of Wichita, KS, Bruce and Cindy Vierthaler, and Greg and Jill Vierthaler of Spearville, KS, Lois and Greg Kessen of Dodge City, KS; many cousins, and many, many friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Howard and Virginia O'Connor, and Lawrence and Erma Vierthaler; his uncles Robert O'Connor and Carl Vierthaler; and one cousin, Beth Vierthaler.

Christian's memorial will take place May 15, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the U.S. Army Guard Flight Facility on Whiteman Air Force Base, in Knob Noster, MO. Flowers may be sent to HQ, 1-135th AVN, 1 Attack Ave., WAFB, MO 65305 Attn: SGT Bredeman by May 14, 2021. In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Christian can be made to the Kansas City English Bulldog Rescue, 11184 Antioch Road #214, Overland Park, Kansas 66210 or the Tri-Lakes Humane Society, P.O. Box 588, Reeds Spring, MO 65737. For more information on how to gain access to Whiteman AFB for the memorial, please contact the family.