Staff Sgt. Steven P. Blass of Estherville, who died in a Black Hawk crash March 11 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. (image via Department of Defense)

Funeral services have been scheduled for an Iowa soldier who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan earlier this month.

Officials say 27-year-old Staff Sgt. Steven Blass, of Estherville, Iowa, was one of five soldiers killed in the March 11 crash.

A visitation for Blass will be held Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Estherville High School Gym before an awards presentation at 8 p.m.

The funeral will be held in the high school gym Tuesday at 2 p.m.

People who knew Blass say he was loving, respectful and funny. He’s survived by his wife, Tricia, and their 16-month-old son, Hayden.

Blass was a helicopter crew chief with the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade. He had been in the Army since 2006 and was on his second combat deployment.