GREELEY, Colo. -- A Weld County deputy killed in the line of duty last week was remembered Monday as a loving father, husband, brother and a man who was a true hero.

Sam Brownlee was grappling with a car thief and known gang member last Tuesday when he was shot three times with his own gun.

Hundreds of law enforcement officers across the state gathered at the Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion on the University of Northern Colorado campus to pay respect to the 43-year-old Brownlee.

"Sam, I knew you for 40 years …You're always there to protect me, to torment me … You're the strong one, the smart one and you're kind of funny in your own way. You did everything for me, Sam. You did everything but prepare me for this," said Sam's younger brother, Michael, choking through tears.

"There's nothing more heroic than the way you died that day," Michael Brownlee said. "Don't get me wrong. I'm still very pissed off at the way this happened ... (but) God chose you that day and he took you."

Sam Brownlee's teenage son also spoke during the service.

"My dad is really cool guy. A nice friend to have. Someone to talk to. I'm glad he met my mom -- she wanted me to say that -- but I am. I am going to miss you," said Tanner Brownlee.

Brownlee was described as a star, who wore a star who left to join the stars in heaven.

"We mourn with you today and this lowering of the flags is just a very small, small, small token of what we do to tell you that Sam gave his life, … and we just acknowledge that we're so grateful that Sam had a desire to be a peace officer," said Gov. Bill Ritter, who said he was speaking on behalf of the people of Colorado. "We ask so much of Sam, as we do the men and women seated in this gymnasium, and in the end, we asked for his life, to protect us, to be part of the system of peace and justice."

Weld County Sheriff John Cooke thanked all of the law enforcement agencies who were covering Weld County so fellow deputies could be at the memorial service.

"We're here today to mark the passing of a hero. Sam did not aspire to be a hero … While we cannot bring him back, we will never forget him ... We didn't lose an employee on Nov. 23. Sam was much more than that. He was a true friend and brother," Cooke said. "Sam had a quick wit and a very dry sense of humor. But he loved being a deputy."

Cooke said Brownlee would swing by the sheriff's office and say "Sheriff, is there anything I can do for you? Sheriff, do you need anything?"

"To Sam, it was all about service," Cooke said. Cooke talked about Brownlee gave CPR to an elderly woman and saved her life, how he ran into a burning house just to check if anyone was inside, and how he was one of the first to arrive to help after the Windsor tornado.

Friends and colleagues described Brownlee as a sweet teddy bear of a man who loved his job, adored his family and relished being on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

"He was a sweetheart of a man. He was the friendliest, kindest, sweetest person I know. Always had a smile on his face. I never heard him say one bad thing about another person," Cooke said.

"My brother protected me, and made sure that none of you beat me up. He reserved that privilege especially for himself. My brother is everything I wanted to be. .. My brother was a giant Boy Scout," Michael Brownlee said.

At the end of the solemn service, Weld County dispatchers called out his number on the police radio, and were greeted by silence.

"No response from 679. You gave it your all, Sam. God bless. We'll miss you brother," a man's voice on the police radio said.

Following the service, which was attended by nearly 3,500 people, there was a procession to Linn Grove Cemetery, where Brownlee was laid to rest.

Brownlee was born in Denver. He was adopted and raised in Greeley, where he went to school and graduated from Greeley High School. He worked for the Gilcrest and Ault police departments before he became a weld County deputy.

His death came at the end of a high-speed car chase that started in Morgan County. The suspect who police said killed Brownlee, 20-year-old Ruben Reyes, had fought through three attempts to subdue him with a Taser stun gun. He was eventually shot and killed by an Evans police officer.

Brownlee is the first Weld County deputy killed in the line of duty in 70 years.

A memorial fund has been established at Chase Bank.