Mason KraeseMason Kraese

Mason was such a loveable kid growing up. He had learning problems in school so we took him to the doctor and they diagnosed him with ADHD. He was on so many different medications, trying to figure out what worked for him. Well in 6th grade it all came to a head as he curled up in a ball in school and wouldn't respond to anyone. Mason was sent to a child psychiatric hospital for a week, over Mother's Day. It was a moment in my life that I don't want to remember.

When he got out he was sent to a different school because of his issues. It was not for him, he did not belong in there, he was not a bad kid, he just didn't know what was wrong with him. Well, we went and got him diagnosed at a specialist and his diagnosis of Asperger's explained everything.

We fought and got him back into regular school, just in time for High School. Well he started out in all special classes and worked his way up until he was in all regular classes and thriving. He ended up graduating in 2016 with a Regents Diploma. But he knew he wouldn't be needing that.

He always said "College isn't for everyone" and he tried many trades until he found his niche. He worked as a helper at an HVAC company, he worked at Cold Spring Harbor Labs in HVAC, he worked at Huntington Hospital in HVAC for a brief time and worked as a dock builder.

Mason did many jobs when he was trying to find his way, most of them were in HVAC, which is what I have been doing for 35 years. He finally got his break with the Trane Corporation in their HVAC Service department where they sent him into the Metal Trades Apprenticeship at Local 638 Steamfitters Union. He went for 3 years until he graduated in April of 2025. He was so proud of himself.

Mason passed in August of 2025 just two weeks shy of getting his own service van and being transferred from Long Island City, NY to Plainview, Long Island, NY where he would be 10 minutes from home instead of hours.

Mason always kept a close circle of friends and he tried to fit in with kids who used to pick on him because they didn't understand his disability. Well as he grew up, many of those friends grew with him. He even made friends with the kids that used to give him a hard time.

He was a former Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Suffolk County Police Dept Explorer, Huntington Manor Fire Dept Junior and 6 year Firefighter. He was a team player, played basketball for St. Peter's in the Long Island Lutheran Basketball League and played football for Walt Whitman HS.

He joined many organizations with his friends right up into the Huntington Manor FD. He was also a member of the East Farmingdale FD Hares Drill Team where he raced with them for many years with some of his friends.

He also did his own thing. He started his own Instagram Club for his Jeep Liberty. He had members from all over the world and made many new friends through his Jeep outings. Then he got his "diesel" truck because every Blue Collar Cowboy needs diesel. He loved that truck and that brought him many new friends.

Mason was a country boy, he hated the city and loved the outdoors. He wanted a big piece of property where he could explore like a little kid looking for bugs and snakes and cool looking rocks. Mason loved going out East, that's where he belonged.

He was a member of the Farm Bureau and a member of the Long Island Antique Power Association in Riverhead. There he loved to take his truck to the Truck Pulls. He started with his Jeep and then switched to his truck, his girl. He made many new friends from there.

Mason loved spending time at his friend's house Upstate. All his buddies would spend weekends riding their ATVs, target shooting, spending days down by the river, at the County Fair or just sitting around the campfire telling stories. That is where Mason spent his final days with his friends.

In the end, Mason had more friends and acquaintances than we could have ever imagined. There are so many stories of "how we met" and every one is more amazing than the next.

Mason was a Patriot, a lover of God and Country. He enjoyed a good life and lived it to the fullest while he was here.

After Mason's accident we have met and heard from people we have never met who were touched by Mason's kindness in some way or another. It just reminds us of how much he was loved.

His friends and family miss him dearly and would give anything to have him back.