Schaller-Crestland students grieve together
Funeral arrangements announced
By Nicole Paseka, Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, April 13, 2007
Schaller-Crestland students returned to school on Thursday morning, crying one minute, then laughing the next.
Three Schaller, Iowa, teenagers -- Cody Claussen, 17, Samuel Collier, 15, and Anthony "Tony" Clark, 16 -- died early Wednesday morning after the car they were traveling in spun out of control on a slushy bridge along U.S. Highway 20.
Schaller-Crestland Community School District Superintendent Dave Kwikkel cancelled classes on Wednesday after learning of the boys' deaths.
But on Thursday, the students returned. There were few absences.
"We're just truly amazed at how our kids did," Kwikkel said, adding that students were crying one minute, then laughing the next.
The high school students were divided up by graduating classes when they arrived in the morning.
"They started sharing their best memories and stories together," Kwikkel said. "They really had their moments this morning and then they wanted to get into a routine again."
Counselors explained the grief process to them and were available to talk to students one-on-one.
Kwikkel said schools as far away as Briar Cliff College in Sioux City volunteered to send counselors to Early, Iowa, where the Schaller-Crestland High School is located.
"We are just overwhelmed by the acts of kindness by the surrounding school districts," Kwikkel said.
Funeral arrangements were announced Thursday for the three boys.
Funeral services for both Samuel Collier, 15, and Cody Claussen, 17, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Schaller gymnasium, 300 South Berwick St. Burial will be at the Schaller Cemetery. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home of Schaller is overseeing the arrangements.
Friends may visit anytime after 1 p.m. on Friday at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home, 306 North Main St., in Schaller, where family will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m.
Funeral services for Anthony "Tony" Clark, 16, of Schaller, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 501 Church St., in Early. Burial will be at the Lake City Cemetery. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home of Schaller is overseeing the arrangements.
Friends may visit anytime after 1 p.m. Friday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 408 South Main St., in Schaller, where family will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. A rosary will be said at 4 p.m. and a vigil service at 7:30 p.m., all at the church.
Journal staff writer Nicole Paseka can be reached at 712-293-4276 or nicolepaseka@siouxcityjournal.com.
Three Schaller, Iowa, teenagers -- Cody Claussen, 17, Samuel Collier, 15, and Anthony "Tony" Clark, 16 -- died early Wednesday morning after the car they were traveling in spun out of control on a slushy bridge along U.S. Highway 20.
Schaller-Crestland Community School District Superintendent Dave Kwikkel cancelled classes on Wednesday after learning of the boys' deaths.
But on Thursday, the students returned. There were few absences.
"We're just truly amazed at how our kids did," Kwikkel said, adding that students were crying one minute, then laughing the next.
The high school students were divided up by graduating classes when they arrived in the morning.
"They started sharing their best memories and stories together," Kwikkel said. "They really had their moments this morning and then they wanted to get into a routine again."
Counselors explained the grief process to them and were available to talk to students one-on-one.
Kwikkel said schools as far away as Briar Cliff College in Sioux City volunteered to send counselors to Early, Iowa, where the Schaller-Crestland High School is located.
"We are just overwhelmed by the acts of kindness by the surrounding school districts," Kwikkel said.
Funeral arrangements were announced Thursday for the three boys.
Funeral services for both Samuel Collier, 15, and Cody Claussen, 17, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Schaller gymnasium, 300 South Berwick St. Burial will be at the Schaller Cemetery. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home of Schaller is overseeing the arrangements.
Friends may visit anytime after 1 p.m. on Friday at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home, 306 North Main St., in Schaller, where family will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m.
Funeral services for Anthony "Tony" Clark, 16, of Schaller, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 501 Church St., in Early. Burial will be at the Lake City Cemetery. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home of Schaller is overseeing the arrangements.
Friends may visit anytime after 1 p.m. Friday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 408 South Main St., in Schaller, where family will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. A rosary will be said at 4 p.m. and a vigil service at 7:30 p.m., all at the church.
Journal staff writer Nicole Paseka can be reached at 712-293-4276 or nicolepaseka@siouxcityjournal.com.
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Heath Severson wrote on Sep 13, 2008 7:01 PM:
Love you boys,
Heath Severson Class of 2008 "
Maria Powers wrote on Dec 19, 2007 2:34 PM:
Carol wrote on Sep 20, 2007 11:17 PM:
vicki heim wrote on Apr 14, 2007 5:32 PM: