1st Lt. Joel C. Gentz is shown with his wife Kathryn Gentz. Joel Gentz, a graduate of Chelsea High School, was serving as an elite combat rescue officer in the U.S. Air Force and died in a helicopter crash Wednesday in Afghanistan.

Courtesy photo

A college banner from Purdue University still hangs proudly in the classroom of Chelsea High School math teacher Lonnie Mitchell.

The banner was a gift from former student Joel C. Gentz, who went on to graduate from the Indiana university, where he participated in the Air Force ROTC. But Gentz always made time to come back to catch up and help Mitchell out - a tradition the teacher had of bringing university students to talk to his classes about college life.

Today, the banner is a difficult reminder after news came that Gentz, who was serving as an elite combat rescue officer in the U.S. Air Force, died in a helicopter crash Wednesday while serving in Afghanistan.

Gentz, 25, was one of four men killed in the crash, the Department of Defense confirmed in a statement.

Gentz and three other airmen were traveling in a HH-60 Pavehawk helicopter when it went down Wednesday near Forward Operation Base Jackson, Lt. Ken Lustig, a public affairs officer at Nellis Air Force Base, told the Jackson Citizen Patriot. Three other airmen were injured in the crash. According to his family, they were on a rescue mission.

Gentz graduated from Chelsea High School in 2002. He was married to Kathryn Gentz, who he met while attending Purdue. They lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for a year before moving to Nellis Airforce Base in Las Vegas. He was the oldest child of Judith and Steven Gentz and had two siblings, Rachel and Jared Gentz.

According to a statement from the Gentz family, Joel received his black belt in Tae-kwon-do, participated in marathons and triathlons, and enjoyed hiking.

"Joel was a person passionate about everything he did. His love for his wife and family and dedication to his work were immeasurable," the statement said. "Both the Gentz and Sullivan families are immensely proud that Joel died doing what he loved and serving his country. He lived by the motto of the pararescue men '…these things we do, that others may live.'”

Mitchell remembers how well-liked and respected he was by peers and teachers.

"He was one of the best kids to come out of his graduating class," Mitchell said. "He always accepted challenges. He probably wasn't one of the smartest in the math class, but he always had among the highest grades in the class because he was such a hard worker."

While in high school, Gentz took honors and advanced placement courses, former teachers said.

He was a member of the swimming, cross country and track teams. Serving as a member of student council and the National Honor Society, he was a known as a natural leader while at Chelsea High School, said Julie Deppner, Chelsea High School principal.

"It's a huge loss for our country and our community. He was among the best-of-the-best," Deppner said.

Gentz graduated with honors in aerospace engineering from Purdue in 2007. He was an Air Force Cadet and was honored with the Warrior Spirit award all four years as voted by his fellow Air Force ROTC. According to his family, although he received a pilot slot, he turned it down because of his desire to become a combat rescue officer to save his fellow service officers.

He was the first Purdue ROTC graduate to become a combat rescue officer, according to the Freedom Remembered website.

He was serving his first deployment in Afghanistan with more than 50 hours of combat time.

Col. Mike Silver, a former Purdue ROTC Air Force detachment commander and Gentz's commander during his final year at Purdue, told the Journal & Courier in Layfayette, Ind., that he was devastated upon hearing the news.

"Maybe it's because of my age and his age, but it's like losing a part of your family," he told the paper. "He was clearly the most well-rounded cadet during his time there."

In Chelsea this week, Gentz was also being remembered for his character.

"He was always goal-driven, but more than that, he wanted to do something that served others," Deppner said. "He was not only well-liked, but he was the kind other looked up to and wanted to be like."

Mitchell recalled hearing Gentz talk about his training and how much he enjoyed it.

"He was doing what he loved, bottom line," Mitchell said. "He was literally doing what he loved to do."

Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.