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Sparks, NV (KTNV) -- Jonathan Blunk -- a young serviceman from Sparks, Nevada -- is among the 12 who died in the movie theater massacre Friday in Aurora, Colorado.  Action News is finding out that during his last moments, the 26-year-old acted as a hero.

Jonathan served five years in the U.S. Navy. He always told his friends and family that if he died, he wanted it to happen in battle. Little did he know the battle would come during a movie. Jonathan was killed trying to protect his friend. He reportedly pushed her under the seat, telling her: "We have to get down." He died shielding her.

"Jonathan wanted to be known as a hero to his kids, and to me, and to his friends and family," says Chantel Blunk. "He just wanted everyone to look at him as that guy. So it's not a surprise at all."

Chantel Blunk was Jonathan's high school sweet heart. They were married for three years before separating. They have a four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son.

Jonathan -- who had been working in Aurora, Colorado -- was scheduled to fly to Reno Saturday to see his children. On Friday, Chantel got a call from Jonathan's boss saying he didn't show up for work. Later that night, she got a call from the FBI, confirming her worst fear.

Chantel says their daughter, Haley, already had a dress picked out and a homemade "Welcome Home" sign to greet him at the airport.

"I had to break the news to her, that daddy was gone," she says. "That he still loves us, but somebody took him from us. She cried, and then she asked if he could still come to her birthday like he promised. Then, I had to explain it all over again. It's been like that ever since. She doesn't fully understand."

Chantel says Haley is now comforted by calling her father's cellphone and hearing him on voicemail.

If you'd like to help the family with funeral costs and other expenses, they've created a Facebook page where people can get more information and help.