LOVELAND, Colo. — Scott Von Lanken, the RTD security officer who was killed near Union Station on Tuesday night, was a husband, father, former police officer and pastor.

His body was escorted back home to Loveland on Thursday.

“My husband is the most wonderful man I’ve ever met,” Shellie Von Lanken said.

She said her 56-year-old husband was a devoted pastor and former police officer who would help anyone at any time.

“He used to say police officers and being a pastor is very similar because you listen to people. You work with their problems and that’s what he really enjoyed doing,” she said.

Her husband was shot to death in front of Union Station while giving two women directions. He had worked as contract security officer for RTD for the past two years.

“He was very well respected and someone the organization looked up to. His peers really enjoyed working with him,” Cdr. Bob Grado of RTD Transit Police said.

“He would have died for anybody that night. If he took that place … if another police officer … if he took the place of that man, he would have been honored to have done that,” Shellie Von Lanken said.

She said Scott Von Lanken would want people to celebrate his life. She also said she never imagined she would never see him again.

“I just love him so very, very much and I just want everybody to just realize — just love the people you love today. You don’t know if you’re going to have them tomorrow,” Shellie Von Lanken said.

A memorial fund to help support Von Lanken’s wife and two children has been established through the Rocky Mountain Law Enforcement Credit Union.

It’s under Scott Von Lanken’s name on the credit union’s website or by calling 303-458-6660.

A co-worker at RTD also set up a GoFundMe account for the family.