Gregory Rotramel was just weeks away from getting married and welcoming his second child.

"I can see his smile, I can see him acting silly," said Kimberly Gale, Rotramel's mother.

Rotramel was just 21 years old, eagerly planning a future with his fiancée, Alicia, son Aiden and awaiting the birth of their daughter next month. Those close to him said his life was his family.

"He put me and the baby before anything," said Alicia Cessna, Rotramel's fiancee.

"The one thing I would like people to take away is Gregory very much loved life. He was very happy, he was looking forward to the future and the birth of his little girl," said Gale.

But a tragic mistake took that future away. Tuesday night, Rotramel was showing his fiancee how to clean a new handgun when it accidentally fired, hitting him in the head. He died at the hospital barely 24 hours later, leaving his family struggling to understand why.

"Somebody that was that much about life never would have imagined that sort of accident would have happened to him," said Gale.

Through their grief, his family is speaking out about respecting and understanding gun safety: Checking safety locks and always making sure it's unloaded.

"People who are cleaning guns need to know that it's very serious and they need to take precautions," said Gale.

Rotramel's mother says her son grew up around guns, often hunting. She says she can't figure out why this time was so different. She says she hopes others learn, so they won't suffer the same tragedy.

"It's not something to take lightly at all. It can very very serious, and fatal," said Gale.

Now, as Rotramel's family works to move forward they are left with tears and memories of a man taken too soon.

"I have so many things I'm going to miss," said Gale.

Rotramel's family said they are working on funeral arrangements. They are also working to set up a memorial fund for his fiancee and children because he had no life insurance.