SIU Student from Aurora Dies in House Fire

Alex Kierstead, a sophomore at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, originally planned to hit the road for Aurora -- his hometown -- for the Thanksgiving last Tuesday.

But, a friend needed to work Tuesday night and wanted to hitch a ride back with Kierstead on Wednesday. So Kierstead decided to wait another day to make sure his buddy got home to his family for the holidays, Joe Hein, Kierstead’s roommate, told the Aurora Beacon-News. Hein and Keirstead shared a home at 700 West Freeman Street with two other roommates.

At about 4:50 a.m. on Nov. 23, emergency personnel responded to a fire at the home. The residence was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. During a primary search of the home, firefighters found Kierstead dead inside. He was the only resident inside when the blaze occurred, according to a press release from the Carbondale Police Department.

Authorities do not suspect foul play and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Hein said he was actually supposed to ride home with Kierstead on Wednesday as well but ended up catching a ride a day earlier with a friend, according to the Aurora-Beacon News. Hein said he learned Wednesday morning that the house had burned down and that Kierstead, who he described as a “lifetime friend,” had died. The two met 2.5 years ago when Hein was a senior at Waubonsie Valley High School.

Kierstead was a junior at SIU and was studying political science, according to the university.

Ryan Rambow, who grew up two houses down from Kierstead in Aurora, said his friend was known for the many bands he played in, according to the Daily Herald. Most recently, Kierstead played bass in Hang Moose and guitar in No Wonder.

Friends told the Daily Herald Kierstead also liked to spend his free time out in nature -- and would hike at popular Southern Illinois locations like Garden of the Gods, Giant City State Park and the spillways.

A memorial service for Kierstead has been set for 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18, New England Congregational Church, 406 W. Galena Blvd. Aurora. In addition, family will receive friends at the church from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17.

Photo credit: Alex Kierstead Obituary/The Healy Chapel