A private funeral for a soldier who strongly supported Canada's role in Afghanistan is to be held today in his hometown of Saskatoon.

Lt. Justin Boyes was killed Oct. 28 in an explosion while he was leading a foot patrol southwest of Kandahar City.

It came only 10 days into the 26-year-old infantryman's second tour of duty in the country.

Boyes was based in Edmonton with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.

His widow has said he was worried that Canadians aren't supporting the mission in Afghanistan as much as they used to.

Alanna Boyes said her husband had recently told her that if the war against the Taliban is lost it will be because “we lost it at home first.”