BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Kevin Lange met Craig Lehner in 2003 as fellow members of the New York Army National Guard's 105th Military Police Company. They deployed to Iraq together eight years later.

One of the things he remembers most: Lehner was always willing to help a fellow soldier.

"He would take them off to the side and say, 'I'm going to show you how to do this the right way,' and then bring them back so they wouldn't feel singled out," said Lange.

Another old friend who watched the five-day search for Lehner was Suzanne Powell. She says her family met Lehner's more than 30 years ago through their church. They'd recently reconnected through social media, and she says one thing was clear.

"He loved his job," said Powell. "His whole life revolved around his dog and his job and his sister and his nieces. His whole world was about what he did."

And Lange says he was always up for the next challenge.

Lange spent a good part of Wednesday painting pumpkins blue for a fundraiser for Lehner's family—following advice he says he can imagine Lehner giving right about now.

"He would say, 'You're sad. I get it,'" Lange said. "'But let's take that sadness right now and let's turn it into something positive. Go help somebody. If somebody's lesser fortunate than you, lift them up.'"

It's one way he says will ensure Lehner's light—and memory— go on.

"Craig was always the positive. He was always the light inside the darkness," said Lange.