Ole Pappy
I stopped into KB’s in Ghent for a bite to eat one night before the start of the baseball season. Plopping down at a table, immediately I was greeted by Donnie Schuelke, who said, “Hello, Byron!”
Just a few moments later, he shed his chair and moved over to my table and said, “Hey, it’s baseball season.” A big smile appeared across his face. But that was nothing new, Donnie always had a smile for everyone.
We talked baseball for about 20 minutes and I found out Donnie knew as much about it as I did. He was excited for the season to begin and was expecting to have a good season.
All year long I talked with Donnie and interviewed him when I could. The only time I saw him without a smile on his face was when he struck out. But he’d run into the dugout and began cheering on his teammates.
Donnie helped organize the motorcycle drive with flags on the cycles to honor his FFA and Ag Advisor William Delaney as he got ready to retire. And again, he did it with a smile on his face. I’ve seen Donnie Schuelke helping his brothers lift bags of groceries and items after shopping at Crazy Days.
I’ve seen him in the classroom talking to kids about farm life — which was something he really loved. I’ve taken photos of Donnie at the county fair as he showed his livestock.
His ability to direct a robot during Robotics, by using his computer, was a mastery I can not understand. Donnie Schuelke was an amazing young man. Whether in his FFA Jacket, a baseball uniform, a rather smart-looking suit or just lounging around, he was the same Donnie. Recently, I was at the Minneota Mudhen baseball game at the Milroy Yankees when Donnie and his friend Mark Laleman showed up. They came to watch and to cheer on the team.
Few other young people come to the Mudhen games — but that was Donnie. During Prom, Donnie organized a bouquet toss with himself and fellow seniors. They were more or less mocking the bouquet toss at weddings, but it had become a tradition, so they did it. It was Donnie who got it going. “Hey, you want a good picture?” he smiled, waving me to come outside for the photo.
The memories will go on and on — because there was no end to the kindness, joy and hope that Donnie Schuelke spread. When his team lost the sectional finals game, and they were one of the favorites, he was the first to rally his troops and try to bring them together. But now it’s time to say goodbye to our friend, one of the best young men I’ve ever known. His parents should be proud for raising such an outstanding young man.
His brothers have something to look up to as they try and figure out their future without their “Big Brother,” their “Champion,” and their best friend. We all can look around and say our lives are better because we knew Donnie Schuelke. As much as I appreciated him, I wish I had appreciated him more. I wish I had told him what an outstandingly great person he was. This was NOT a life wasted. It was a life far too SHORT ... but one lived with gusto, with promise, with compassion and with passion. Donnie Schuelke should be our model for the future.
Many times I’ve said the young generation doesn’t know how to work — how to get the job done. But I was wrong. Donnie Schuelke knew how and he went out and lived it.
Thank you, Donnie Schuelke.
My life is better because you were here.
Many lives are better because you were here. What more can you ask.
They don’t have to make a great movie about Donnie Schuelke’s life. After all — HE LIVED IT ... every day!
Laugh a Little: Wishful Thinking Two-year-old cousin scared us one summer by disappearing during our lakeside vacation. More than a dozen relatives searched the forest and shoreline, and everyone was relieved when we found Matthew playing calmly in the woods. “Listen to me, Matthew,” his mother said sharply. “From now on when you want to go someplace, you tell Mommy first, okay?” Matthew thought about that for a moment and said, “Okay. Disney World.”
Thought for the Week: As my Ole Pappy used to say, “Faith doesn’t make sense. That’s why it makes miracles.” Ole Pappy was a man of faith, and he didn’t mind sharing it with me. Thanks Ole Pappy!