Daniels said the National Guard soldier killed was the best kind of citizen a state could hope for. Tauteris was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Tauteris Jr. was older than 40 when he re-enlisted in the National Guard. Soon after, an age limit of 35 was set. His son, 21-year-old Bobby III, enlisted at the same time. Father and son were deployed to Afghanistan just after Thanksgiving. For the elder Tauteris, it was his second tour of duty there.

The funeral was held at Braman and Bailey Funeral Home in North Judson. Daniels said he plans to attend the funerals of all four Indiana National Guardsmen killed in the Jan. 5 incident.

“We are a state of patriots 6.5 million strong, all who would be here at the service if they could,” he said. “They are with us here in spirit and in our mourning. Robert was a true Hoosier patriot.”

Before entering the funeral home, Daniels approached the members of the Indiana Patriot Guard to thank them for their service. The Patriot Guard was a visible presence at the funeral, where members lined the entrance hall with U.S. flags. They also escorted the funeral procession to the LaCrosse cemetery where Tauteris Jr. was buried near his mother, Margie.

More than 170 vehicles made up the funeral procession which passed under giant flags in North Judson and LaCrosse. Area fire departments also played a role in the procession and assisted with traffic control.

Tauteris resided in Hamlet with Bobby III and another son, Matthew, 18. He was a 1986 graduate of North Judson High School.