WAUSAU, Wis. — May 29, 2025 — A deep sadness has fallen over the Wausau community following the tragic passing of Kaign Reifschneider, a young man whose life touched many. His mother, Kayla Combs Koplitz  affectionately known as Kyla, shared a heart-wrenching tribute that captured the raw pain of a parent facing the unimaginable.

“No mother should have to bury their son,” she wrote. “Rest in peace, my firstborn. My baby. My world. I love you more than you will ever know @ Kaign Reifschneider. God has you now. Fly with the angels, my son.”

Kaign was known for his quiet kindness and the deep love he had for his family and friends. His loss has shaken those closest to him and left a community mourning a life taken too soon. The circumstances surrounding his passing have not been made public, but the heartbreak is being felt deeply by all who knew him.

Kyla’s words reflect the deep connection she shared with her son. He wasn’t just her child, he was her world, the person who first made her a mother.

“He meant everything to her,” said one family friend. “This kind of pain , it’s impossible to put into words. We’re all hurting for her.”

Tributes have been pouring in from friends, loved ones, and members of the community who remember Kaign as someone genuine, loyal, and full of heart. He wasn’t loud or flashy, but his presence was always felt, and his absence now feels overwhelming.

Plans are underway for a candlelight vigil in Wausau, giving friends and neighbors an opportunity to come together, remember Kaign, and offer support to his grieving family.

Kyla continues to share her sorrow with honesty and strength, speaking from the heart as she remembers her son.

“You were my reason,” she wrote. “You gave me life when you came into this world. And now I’ll carry you with me for the rest of mine.”

As the community wraps its arms around the Reifschneider family during this difficult time, Kaign’s memory lives on  through stories, through love, and through the deep imprint he left on everyone who knew him.

Rest in peace, Kaign. Your light will never be forgotten.