Friends, family and firefighters remember Costa Mesa fire captain ‘Ironman Mike’
Nearly two weeks after a fateful crash that took the life of Costa Mesa fire Capt. Mike Kreza, his friends, family and uniformed colleagues gathered to remember him during an emotional memorial service Friday.
Saddleback Church in Lake Forest was filled with hundreds of people sharing laughs and tears for the 44-year-old father of three girls, husband and triathlon competitor.
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The 18-year veteran of Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue died Nov. 5, two days after being hit by a suspected DUI driver while he was cycling in Mission Viejo, training for his next Ironman competition. But the manner of his passing was one not discussed during the service, which was replete with memories of Kreza’s life.
Kreza’s wife Shanna, who did not speak during the service, wrote a heartbreaking letter to her departed husband and a loved one read it.
“I can’t live when half of my heart is gone…This gaping hole in my heart was once filled by the most loving, selfless human being I’ve ever known,” she wrote.
“We loved each other so deeply that our marriage only had ups never any downs.”
His young daughters also wrote their father letters, read for them.
“All I know is that you will be with me in my heart every day and everywhere,” Kaylie, 11, wrote in hers.
The youngest, 7-year-old Audrey wrote: “I will miss falling asleep with you on the couch. I loved watching you do your races. Daddy, you’re the best daddy in the entire world.”
Layla, 9, took to the podium and read her own.
“You’re kind, loving, strong and fierce and the most important thing was that you were brave. I miss you so much and I always want to make you smile.”
Fire engineer Steve Cathey talked about having Kreza as his best friend as well as his boss.
“Coming to work was an unbelievable experience knowing that I got to work for my best friend,” Cathey said. “He put everybody ahead of himself.”
The two also rode bikes alongside one another while Kreza trained for triathlons, the competitive activity that spawned his nickname: “Ironman.”
Cathey recounted how the family cheered him on the first time he completed the Ironman competition in 2014: “He crossed the finish line with a smile on his face holding a picture of his girls in one hand and a finger to God.”
Kreza’s aunt Bobbie Kimball recalled the day he was born and joked that at nearly 11 pounds he seemed large next to the smaller babies in the hospital.
“Mike came into this world large. He lived large, and he loved large. And became a large influence in so many that knew him,” she said in tears.
After the crash, the outpouring of support from the public and firefighting community was swift as people shared condolences and contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to a crowdfunding source to help his family. The driver of the car, Stephen Taylor Sarpa, 25, of Mission Viejo allegedly was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance and has been charged with murder.
To conclude the emotional ceremony Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Chief Dan Stefano presented a folded American flag and firefighter’s helmet to Kreza’s wife and daughters and he was sent off with the traditional bell-ringing ceremony. In the early years of firefighting, ringing a bell three times indicated a job was completed and it was time to go home.
“Captain Kreza, on behalf of the fire family: We’ll take it from here.”