The quiet life of Sgt. First Class Nicole M. Amor is now being remembered in a deeply personal way, far from the chaos that took her life. More than $65,000 has been raised through an online fundraiser to build a greenhouse in her memory, a peaceful place her family says reflects the warmth and life she brought into the world.
Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, was among six U.S. soldiers killed on March 1 when a drone slammed into a command center at Port Shuaiba in Kuwait. The strike came amid a rapidly escalating conflict between the United States and Iran. Military officials confirmed the unmanned aircraft hit a tactical operations center where American troops were stationed, killing the soldiers instantly and leaving several others injured.
She served with the Army Reserve’s 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa. The unit handled logistics operations, helping move food, supplies, and equipment for American forces across the region. Amor had spent years in uniform and was known among fellow soldiers as steady, dependable, and deeply committed to her mission.
Back home, however, those who loved her describe a much softer side. She was a devoted wife, a mother of two, and someone who found joy in small things. Gardening was one of those joys. Friends say Amor loved working in the soil, growing flowers and vegetables, and spending quiet moments outdoors with her family.
That passion is what inspired the fundraiser now spreading across social media. Organized by her cousin Rachel Schuler and sister-in-law Amy Kuretsky, the campaign aims to build a greenhouse at the family’s home. Her husband, Joey Amor, says the space will honor the kind of life Nicole cherished.
“Nicole was an amazing soldier, but more than that she was an amazing wife, mother, and friend,” he wrote on the fundraiser page. “The world is dimmer without her light in it.”
The original goal for the project was $50,000, but donations quickly passed that mark as friends, fellow soldiers, and strangers shared messages of support. Organizers say the overwhelming response shows just how deeply Amor touched people’s lives.
Family members say any extra funds will go toward supporting Garden-in-a-Box, a nonprofit organization that once helped Amor build gardens at home. The group promotes community gardening and outdoor spaces that bring people together, something Amor strongly believed in.
Those close to the family say plans may now grow beyond a single greenhouse. Organizers are exploring the possibility of building a larger community memorial garden, a place where others can find the same peace Amor found in tending to plants and watching things grow.
For the family, the project is not just about remembering a soldier lost in war. It is about keeping alive the gentle parts of the woman behind the uniform.
