Jason Beranek was hoping to surprise his father with a Wednesday visit during a leave from Iraq.

But the surprise turned into shock when he learned that his father, Steve, had died of a heart attack on Tuesday.

Family, friends and colleagues were remembering Beranek, of rural Courtland, Friday afternoon as a dedicated and caring man whose 33 years in the Minnesota National Guard — and two children serving in Iraq — showed what Veterans Day meant to him.

He was 53.

The oldest of eight siblings, accepting responsibility — and doling out the chores — came easily to Steve Beranek, remembers sister Cynthia Cherrie. Also familiar to her was his ability to take a good joke — and his “good German temper,” she said with a laugh.

Years after getting his brothers and sisters into trouble on his family’s New Ulm farm, Beranek would rise to the rank of command sergeant major, the highest rank enlisted soldiers can receive in the Minnesota National Guard. For most of that time, he also served in Courtland’s fire department and spent his final four years there as assistant to the chief.

Beranek was a division artillery trainer, but retired Col. John Kreye said he was more like a mentor.

He gave the same type of guidance a father would give to his son, Kreye said, using a leadership style different than the traditional military disciplinarian.

“He had a real rare quality in getting people to embrace what he wanted to do rather than doing it out of fear,” Kreye said.

But details were important when training with a weapon where a tiny mistake could send a 94-lb. round careening off course and send its 50 yards of shrapnel into a group of friendlies.

So Beranek had high standards, said Command Sgt. Maj. Bob Boone, who is responsible for troop training at the state level. But he also “genuinely cared” about his soldiers’ professional — and personal — lives.

Beranek also trained volunteers in the Courtland Fire Department for 22 years.

When Fire Chief Todd Hulke spoke about Beranek, one word kept popping up.

“Dedicated is the big word,” he said.

Dedicated to the recruits, to the school children he looked forward to teaching during fire safety week and to the 1929 Model T Ford that belonged to the fire department.