Star Tribune -- Marine Capt. Kelly Hinz had known his daughter, Abby, for just three months before he left for Iraq in February, but he had her in mind on Monday morning when he sent an e-mail to his brother Ben in California.

"He wanted to make sure I was going to get flowers to his wife, Molly, and to our mom for Mother's Day," said 1st Lt. Ben Hinz, who, like his older brother, pilots F/A-18C Hornet jets for the Marines.

Instead of celebrating Mother's Day, though, the Hinz family of Woodbury expects to receive Kelly's body this weekend.

Shortly after sending the e-mail, Kelly Hinz climbed into his Hornet and took off for his last flight. The family was notified on Wednesday that he had died after an apparent mid-air collision with a companion Hornet. Initial evidence suggests the accident may have been caused by a sandstorm and lightning, the family said.

Hinz, 30, was the 21st Minnesotan known to have died in connection with the Iraq war. In addition to his wife, Molly, 29, and Abby, now seven months old, he is survived by three brothers -- Ben, Kurt and Luke -- and his mother, Patricia Hinz of Woodbury.

His death adds to the family's burden of grief over the loss of his father in May 2004. Donald Hinz, 60, died after a vintage fighter plane he was piloting crash-landed during an air show near Hager City, Wis. As a former Navy pilot, he had instilled a love of flying in his sons.

"When I had car troubles and wanted to call my dad, he wasn't there, so I called Kelly," Ben said.

"He's been the leader of our family for the past year," his brother added. "It was not easy to step into my dad's shoes, but Kelly definitely did that. ... He was there for my mom. He had an exhaustive work schedule, doing work-ups in preparation for his deployment. He had a wife and a new baby. Somehow he managed to handle all of that and keep the rest of us on our toes."

Kelly was driven by a deep and abiding love of family, Ben said. But the family also was remembering him Thursday for his zest in pursuing many other passions, beginning with a love of nature and the sheer joy of physical exertion.

"He was never a slow guy," Ben said. "When he wasn't at work, we were water skiing. We were up in the mountains, camping and hiking. We were taking ski trips. ... He wasn't one of these guys who left behind the family and the wife, though, while he went off to have a good time. They enjoyed the outdoors together. It was a huge part of their lives."

Hinz graduated in 1993 from St. Thomas Academy, a military high school in Mendota Heights where he lettered on the rifle team and a state-championship Alpine ski team. Flags at the school were at half-staff on Thursday, and Hinz was honored in a prayer service.

While in college, Hinz returned to work as the academy's assistant ski coach, and many former students will remember his guidance, said Jack Zahr, the school's athletic director.

"I think they will remember him as a patient person who had high expectations but also was very enthusiastic and positive," Zahr said. "He was very young to be a high school coach. But he didn't just coach them, he mentored them. ... Even as a high school student he displayed tremendous leadership."

After attending the University of Colorado at Boulder, Kelly transferred to the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1997.

Kelly and Molly Hinz met in Minnesota while they were in high school, Ben said, and they moved to San Diego to be near a base at Miramar where he was assigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. His unit embarked aboard the USS Carl Vinson in early February, and he was scheduled to come home in July.

The ship lost contact with Hinz and the other pilot who died in the crash -- Maj. John Spahr, 42, of Cherry Hill, N.J. -- at 10:10 p.m. Monday, military authorities said. There was no indication of hostile fire in the area, they said.

A funeral will be held in Woodbury or South St. Paul, probably on Wednesday or Thursday next week, Ben said.

Kelly's military and family friends have opened a trust fund for Abby's college education. Donations can be sent to Navy Federal Credit Union, Attn: Abby Hinz Fund Account #3004143511, P. O. Box 3100, Merrifield, VA 22119.