Black River selling shirts to honor Joe Schuler, support students
HOLLAND — Black River Public School is selling shirts to honor the legacy of Joe Schuler, a teacher and coach who unexpectedly died at age 23 in February.
The effort was led by BR teacher Krista Ekdahl and parent Ashley Huizenga. It came out of a conversation during the school’s annual Rat Race to support athletics.
“We wanted to memorialize him in some way,” Ekdahl said. “We thought ‘How can we do something for both Joe and our kids?’ The idea came to run the Rat Race in honor of him, then this blossomed through that.”
The shirts feature Schuler’s likeness and proceeds will go toward a pair of causes. Half the proceeds will go toward Black River athletic programs, while the other half will go toward the Joe Schuler Environmental Impact Scholarship established by Schuler’s parents.
“He had two passions here,” Ekdahl said. “Athletics was one, being invested in the students, faculty and staff was the other.
“He was totally invested in the kids and wanted to help put Black River athletics on the map.”
More: Black River grieving loss of teacher, coach, ‘positive force’ Joe Schuler
Subscribe: Receive unlimited access to your local news coverage
The school worked with Silkscreen Marketing, a local screen printing company, to create the shirts, which are being sold for $20.
A Google Form for orders is available on the Black River website and Facebook page and will remain open until May 18. Any questions can be sent to Ekdahl at ekdahlk@brpsk12.org or Huizenga at aslhuizer@gmail.com.
Schuler died Sunday, Feb. 27, from a pulmonary embolism. He was in his first year as a physics teacher at Black River. In addition to teaching, Schuler coached the junior varsity boys basketball team this year.
Schuler, an Eagle Scout, was an avid lover of the outdoors. His BRPS staff profile highlighted his love of hiking, exploring, taking backpacking trips, reading, running and biking. He mentioned a desire to have an eco-friendly house with a yard full of native plants and a large vegetable garden.
The school previously honored Schuler with the JV basketball team wearing “JS” armbands during their final game and holding a “wear maize and blue for Mr. Schu" during the game to recognize Schuler, a 2020 graduate of the University of Michigan, March 4.
Schuler's students and players also had the opportunity to make cards that were shared with Schuler's parents.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Black River selling shirts to honor Joe Schuler, support students
