A year and a day after losing two of their sons in an automobile accident, Cliff and Vicki Schrauger were presented with the keys to their new Lake Orion home in a ceremony on Tuesday (Sept. 30).
‘Today, this comes to completion,? said Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.
Patterson took an interest in the family after hearing not only of the deaths of Joshua, 17, and Timothy, 14, but also that their brother, David, 24, had been wounded while serving in Iraq. The Schraugers were also dealing with a home forclosure several months before their son’s military injury.
‘No one should experience the kind of personal loss this family has,? Patterson said. ‘And then to lose your house on top of that is almost too much to bear.?
Joshua and Timothy, both Lake Orion High School students, were killed in a traffic accident in Clinton County on Sept. 29, 2007, while on their way to meet friends.
David, an Army specialist, was seriously injured when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle. He suffered arm, leg, spine and lung injuries, and has undergone more than 50 surgeries.
The Schraugers have two other children: Stephen, a college student in Michigan, and Kristina, a school teacher living in North Carolina.
County and local officials, as well as 75 sponsors, all came together to build and donate a new house to the Schraugers in Lake Orion Village. The Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights (MRCC) not only donated their labor, but also $20,000 to the cause.
‘Truly, this is a noble cause that benefits a family in need,? said Douglas Buckler, MRCC executive secretary and treasurer. ‘Nothing will ever replace the loss of Cliff and Vicki’s two sons, but we hope that the Schraugers can call this new house a home for many years to come.?
Clarkston builder Forrest Milzow, who headed up the building of the house, was also at the ceremony to hand the Schraugers the keys to their new house.
‘This has been a labor of love,? Milzow said.
Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh was also thanked for helping to arrange David’s leave from the Army.
‘These events alone could destroy any family, but not this family,? Narsh said.
Cliff Schrauger said he had driven by the home many times during its construction and had to shake his head in disbelief at the outpouring of community support for his family.
‘This has been one of the most energizing acts of community love I have ever seen in my life,? he said. ‘There truly is good in people.?
Vicki Schrauger took the time to announce that David and his wife are also expecting a baby in the spring. She thanked the community for their efforts, as well.
‘Our family will remember this with gratitude for years to come,? she said.
A complete list of donors to the Schrauger Family Project can be found at www.oakgov.com/house

The weather didn’t exactly cooperate, but that could not stop a project that’s been in the works since late October, as a groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday at the Village of Lake Orion site of the soon-to-be constructed home for the Schrauger family.
‘We’re overwhelmed,? Cliff Schrauger said. ‘It’s nice to have some positive things like this.?
The Schraugers lost two teenage sons in a fatal traffic accident and a third son is recovering from serious wounds suffered on Father’s Day while serving in Iraq.
In addition to the groundbreaking, son David was married a few weeks ago and daughter Kristina has a wedding set for this weekend, helping bring joy to parents Cliff and Vicki.
‘We’re very grateful to the way this community has stepped forward,? said the Rev. Tom Hopkins. ‘Their loss was enormous and it’s going to take them years to recover.?
The groundbreaking was held at 316 Newton Court, in the Newton Meadows subdivision. On hand was Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, along with Clarkston builder Forrest Milzow, who will head up construction on the project.
The groundbreaking comes six weeks after Patterson first announced the project to help the family. He said the goal is to build and furnish a new home for the family in six months, mortgage free. No taxpayer money is being used to build the home.
‘I think the process has moved extremely fast,? Patterson said. ‘It wouldn’t have been possible but for the support of the community and the benefactors who stepped up.?
With that, he turned the process over to Milzow, who said a basement should be put in within the week.
The Schraugers are currently living in a cottage on the north side of Lake Orion, that was donated by Robert Cicilian and family, during the construction of their new house.
Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassel said the effort by everyone is an example of the community living out the notion that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh agreed.
‘You can lose a house, you can experience an unthinkable tragedy, but you cannot lose your community,? Narsh said.
‘We’re very proud to stand beside you today in what we hope will be a place of comfort for you,? he added.
Brothers Joshua, 17, and Timothy, 14, were killed in a traffic accident in Clinton County on Sept. 29. Both boys were students at Lake Orion High School.
David, 24, a U.S. Army specialist, was seriously injured when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle. He suffered leg, arm, spine and lung injuries.
The Schraugers had also lost their home due to foreclosure several months earlier.
To date, commitments have been made to cover more than 80-percent of the goods or services needed for the home. A website was created for the project at www.oakgov.com/house.
A page will be added to the site that will include updates on the progress of the home’s construction.