SSG Timothy Steven Klesta started his life with the Army on his 18th birthday in the year 2000. He served three tours, one in Iraq in 2003, in Kuwait in 2008, and Afghanistan in 2012. Two things in his life that he was very passionate about were his family and the United States Army. He had a very quick witted and contagious sense of humor about him, and he absolutely loved to play pranks and make people laugh. He had a very caring and loving heart and would give the shirt off his back to help someone in need. Tim’s unexpected death has left a very large void in all our hearts.

Tim and I met in 5th grade and became the best of friends instantly! We used to hang out all summer long and ride our bikes all over Medina. Every morning on the bus he’d have a seat saved and we’d do the same on the way home. Once we got to high school, Tim drove us to and from… but on the way we’d pass an alpaca farm and he’d scream at the top of his lungs and spook the alpacas and make them all stare at our car! We’d laugh the last couple miles every single time! We worked at the same restaurant and time was as good as one could ever ask of it! Then we graduated and both joined the service. He joined the Army and I joined the Navy. We both set off for boot camp in the summer of 2000. We’d talk off and on but it wasn’t until Christmas time 2011 that we’d see each other again! I was working at Camp Shelby, MS on a project and he was training for deployment there as well! Once we figured out how close we were, we worked out a time to meet up. I drove him down to my home where he met my wife and we just picked up right where we’d left off. Time never stopped! It was a true showing of just how small the world truly is! He went home for Christmas and then I picked him up at the airport and back to training he went. We said our goodbyes and managed to deploy to Afghanistan at the same time! We never crossed paths, but we tried to stay in touch. I know that if he and I could meet again it would be like time stopped. He was a tremendous father and husband.

Brandon Simons

So, while deployed to Kuwait, Tim and I were bunked together, and would constantly prank each other. The best he ever got me was when I was coming back from leave, and I had gotten in at around 0300 to find everything I owned saran wrapped. Even my pillows and my bunk had been turned into a sarcophagus that I had to cut my way into. I was so tired I just slept inside it like that. Several years later while we were deployed to Afghanistan, the pranks continued, even though we were in different companies. At one point, I got back to base after being on mission for a couple days, to find he had snuck into my tent and put about 25 cases of water on my bed, and in my area, so I could have a "waterbed". We were so close, and he was at our house so much, that when he first got with his wife, she thought my oldest son was his because he treated him like he was his own. No matter what was going on, he had a way of always making you laugh and smile. He would even get me when we worked at our civilian job where we worked together. He was truly a great man.

Joseph Dickey-Ballentine

Besides his family I don’t think Tim loved anything more than food. Tim was essentially a garbage disposal that was built like a bean pole. I don’t know many people who are Tim’s size and can eat the amount of food he could.

One of my favorite memories of Tim was while we were in Afghanistan at chow.

For some reason Tim was craving a banana so we went to lunch earlier than we normally would. While at lunch I assumed Tim would eat one banana or possibly two like a normal person. To my disbelief Tim came to the table with two full bunches of bananas on his plate. At first, I thought he was joking but he assured me he was not. After completing his actual meal, others and I watched Tim eat anywhere from 10-15 bananas within 10 minutes. It was impressive to say the least.

Although this story isn’t the most exciting, we talked about that day years after we left Afghanistan simply because of how amazing it was to watch. Tim loved the simple things while we were deployed, and food was one of those things.

Sgt Schwedt

There are so many stories to tell. Tim was genuinely the most selfless person I've ever known. From saving me from being " body slammed" by a camel spider, to encouraging me to adopt my beautiful daughter, now 10 years old. I was so unsure about being a dad, and he really helped me believe in myself. He was always looking out for his Soldiers. My favorite story is about the last time I saw him. I was at Camp Perry for rifle qualification. I was walking to the range where I heard Tim yell out my name. I turned around and I see Tim jump out of a moving forklift, which he was driving, he ran at me full speed and picked me up in bear hug. Somehow the forklift stopped on its own without incident. Every time we would see each other, even if it was just the day before, Tim always greeted me like a long-lost brother he just found.

Michael Williams