Cedar Rapids war veteran dies when scuba tank explodes

CEDAR RAPIDS - Authorities are investigating what caused 23-year-old Russell Vanhorn II's scuba tank to explode outside an apartment complex in St. Petersburg, Florida, killing him on Sunday.

The former marine and Cedar Rapids native served in Iraq before pursuing a career as a scuba instructor.

“He was a good man,” said Justin Warnke, Vanhorn's brother. “A person you could count on no matter what. He'd always be there to help you."

The brothers went to Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, both members of the wrestling team, before graduating early to join the Marines.

“He was in Okinawa, Philippeans, Australia, Thialand, all over the world," Warnke said outside his family's Cedar Rapids home on Tuesday.

But it was in Okinawa Japan that Warnke says his brother discovered his passion for scuba diving.

“He just loved being under the water, anything to do with water, he was always into it.”

After leaving the military in 2009, Vanhorn turned his passion into a career. He traveled back and forth from Iowa to Florida planning a future as a scuba instructor and volunteering his time to teach special needs children how to dive.

On Sunday, he was leaving a friend's apartment in St. Petersburg for a scuba trip when the unthinkable happened: Vanhorn's tank suddenly, and without warning, exploded.

"It was really hard to believe, being a scuba diver myself, I couldn't believe his tank blew up," said Warnke. "It's just so tragic."

Warnke says the family has been touched by the outpouring of support from Vanhorn's friends in Florida, fellow Marines, and the people of Cedar Rapids.

"We didn't expect him to go so soon. It was an accident - he had so much more to live for."

A funeral is set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. A visitation will take place from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Friday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

The family has also set up a memorial fund through Guarantee Bank in Cedar Rapids.