Described as kind and caring young men by many who knew them, a family and the Lake Orion community mourns the loss of two brothers.
Joshua Schrauger, 17, and his younger brother, Timothy, 14, were involved in a fatal car accident in Riley Township, in Clinton County, on Saturday afternoon.
According to a Clinton County Sheriff’s report, the pair was traveling eastbound on Price Road, failed to stop for a stop sign and was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound on Francis Road.
Both Joshua and Timothy were pronounced dead at the scene, and the other driver, 24-year-old Corey Sheldon from St. Johns, sustained minor injuries.
Joshua and Timothy were both students at Lake Orion High School, where Josh was a senior and Tim a freshman
Both brothers enjoyed running, singing and had a strong faith in God.
‘Words cannot express our sorrow over the loss of these two wonderful boys,? said the family’s pastor at Community Bible Church in Waterford, Rev. Tom Hampton, on the church’s website.
Josh was a member of the boys cross country team and one of six senior captains.
Cross country Coach Stan Ford said that Josh brought a lot to the team.
‘He was a good leader, he enjoyed the camaraderie of being on the team and he showed a lot of respect for other people,? Ford added.
Josh competed in a cross country race the morning of the accident, capping off one of his best weeks of running. According to Ford, he competed in a JV meet on Tuesday, winning it, and then went on to medal in the varsity race of the Waterford Mott Invitational meet on Saturday.
While Tim did not run cross country, both brothers planned on participating on the track team together in the spring.
Singing was an important part of Tim’s life, and while he was just starting to make his mark at the high school, he had been very involved in choir at Oakview Middle School, where both boys attended sixth through eighth grade.
According to Cheryl Bongiorno, choir teacher at Oakview, Tim won many awards in choir competitions and was always determined to help make his choir the best in the state.
?(He) encouraged the other students to work hard also,? she said.
‘He enriched our lives in many ways,? Bongiorno added. ‘He was kind to everyone and had a wonderful sense of humor.?
Oakview Principal Alice Seppanen remembers both boys fondly.
‘Both Tim and Josh were talented, kind and caring young men,? she said. ‘We will all miss their smiling faces and cheerful personalities.?
The death of Josh and Tim comes after months of hardship for the Schrauger family.
Older brother David, an Army specialist, was injured during service in Iraq earlier this summer. He was riding in a Humvee when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated, causing injuries to both his spine and arms.
David has required numerous surgeries, first in Baghdad, then Germany, Washington, D.C. and now in Texas, and has experienced many setbacks, such as pneumonia, along the way. Throughout the months, mom, Vicki, has been updating David’s condition on a prayer page on their church’s website, and continually calling upon her faith.
‘As to how we, as David’s family, are doing, He is giving us grace to wait on what we know and what we don’t know about David’s condition. We know that He knows all things and nothing, including this is outside of the Father’s hands,? Vicki said in an entry on June 18.
Due to David’s medical condition, the family has been spending many trips back and forth, prompting dad, Cliff, to stay in Texas with David.
As many community members know, this wreaked havoc on the family’s finances, causing their house to go into foreclosure. The family has been staying in Waterford.
The community, friends and fellow classmates of Josh and Tim are rallying to try to help the family.
A fund has been set up, through Community Bible Church, for those interested in helping the family in their time of need.
Donations can been sent to The Schrauger Family, C/O Community Bible Church, 1888 Crescent Lake Road, Waterford, Michigan 48329, with checks made out to ‘Schrauger Family Fund.? Anyone with questions can call (248)674-4871.
Josh’s teammates on the cross country team are planning a 5K to benefit his family. It will be held on his birthday, Nov. 17. They were also handing out green and white ribbons in school this week, in honor of the brothers? memory.
Donations will also be collected at the Homecoming game this Friday.
Look in upcoming issues of The Review for an update of ways the community can help support the Schrauger family.
Josh and Tim were survived by their family, parents Cliff and Vicki and siblings Stephen, David and Kristina.
The family will receive friends today (Oct. 3) from 1-9 p.m. at Riverside Chapel, Simpson-Modetz Funeral Home, 5630 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford (248-674-4181).
The funeral will be held at Lake Orion High School on Thursday, Oct. 4, at 4:30 p.m. in the auditorium.