Tributes pour in for Minnesota soldier killed in Kuwait, including memorial greenhouse

The husband of the Minnesota soldier killed last weekend in Kuwait says he hopes to honor her with a memorial greenhouse.

Sgt. First Class Nicole Amor, 39, died Sunday during an attack by an unmanned aircraft system at Port Shuaiba, says the U.S. Department of Defense. As of Thursday, there have been six confirmed American casualties since the U.S. and Israel began a joint attack on Iran early Saturday.

Nicole Amor was serving in the U.S. Army Reserve's 103rd Sustainment Command out of Des Moines, Iowa, and had served in the military for more than a quarter century.

She was set to return home to White Bear Lake, Minnesota, on Tuesday, according to her husband, Joey Amor. The couple have two children: a high school senior and a fourth grader.

"She was almost home," said Joey Amor on Tuesday. "You don't go to Kuwait thinking something's going to happen. And for her to be one of the first, it hurts."

In a social media post Wednesday, Joey Amor honored his wife as "an amazing soldier, but more than that she was an amazing wife, mother, and friend." He also said she loved gardening, through which "she found peace and joy."

"One of the things I would love to do in her honor is build a greenhouse — a place that would have made her incredibly happy and at peace. A space where her love for growing things can continue to live on," wrote Joey Amor.

A GoFundMe account set up to fund the greenhouse has raised more than $52,000 as of early Friday. 

"I like you, I love you, I am in love with you. You are my best friend, and now you will be missed dearly," wrote Joey Amor.

Extra funds raised will go to local nonprofit Garden-in-a-Box, which previously helped Nicole Amor build her home gardens.

"It's just an honor really to be even included and mentioned and have those extra funds go to our program," program manager Anna Marhefke said.

Marhefke said the nonprofit, run by the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, distributes more than 800 gardening kits each year to other nonprofits, nursing homes and schools.

"It was just really cool that their family wants to give that to us in their really difficult time," Marhefke said.

Earlier this week, White Bear Lake Mayor Mary Nicklawske ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in the city in Nicole Amor's honor. Gov. Tim Walz issued a similar, statewide order.

Paige Yurek, who said she served alongside Nicole Amor, wrote on Facebook that she "left an indelible mark on my life."

"Her dedication and spirit will always be remembered and carried on," Yurek wrote.

Amy Kuretsky, Nicole Amor's sister-in-law, told WCCO their family is overwhelmed by all of the love and support.