‘He was the kind of person everyone was happy to see’

Sam Shonkwiler was full of life.

He would walk in a room and people would call his name.

He had a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

He had a kind smile.

He lit up every room that he entered.

Now, a community is grieving the loss of a boy they watched grow up.

Shonkwiler passed away on July 10 in a car accident.

Christina Gherna was Sam’s first grade teacher and her son, Joe, was very close friends with Sam.
She said her first memory of Sam isn’t from his first day in her classroom but instead when his brother, Max, was in her first grade class.

Their mother Carly, would walk Max to the classroom every day. Sam always came along.

“He would toddle down the hallway with his red hair and cute chubby cheeks,” Gherna said. “I would always say to her that I better get to be his first grade teacher.”

A few years later, Gherna got her wish.

“I was thrilled when he was in my class,” she said. “He was so funny, sweet and ornery. Just one of the best kids you will ever know.”

Gherna said Shonkwiler kept that positive demeanor as he grew.

“He continued to be that same sweet kid,” she said.

Before his May high school graduation, Gherna got to see Shonkwiler in the halls of St. Joseph Grade School one last time.

“So fast forward 11 years and here comes Sam down that same first grade hallway with his classmates in their caps and gowns,” she said. “I got the biggest hug from him that day. I was so proud of him like he was my own kid. I will cherish that forever.”

Family friend Dana Rowland said she will remember how Shonkwiler brightened the day of anyone who came in contact with him.

“Sammy was the kind of kid who lit up every room he entered,” she said. “We were lucky to watch him grow up in the neighborhood and even luckier that he became such a close friend to our son over the years.”

Rowland said some of her fondest memories of Shonkwiler involve making her son and Shonkwiler breakfast and their annual Friendsgiving dinners.

“Sam would always be there,” she said. “Part of the laughter, the stories, the fun. He was the kind of person everyone was happy to see. He was kind, full of life and deeply loved by all who knew him.”

During his time at St. Joseph-Ogden High School he was on the football and track teams.

But Superintendent Brian Brooks said a memory that stands out for him is actually from another sport.

Basketball.

“Some of my favorite memories of Sam actually come from his younger years when he would attend our basketball camp back when I was our boys head basketball coach,” Brooks said.
Brooks said Shonkwiler attended numerous camps through fifth grade.

“He had a really fun personality,” Brooks said. “Not only did we as coaches always look forward to having Sam in camp and seeing him, but so did our players. He was just one of those kids who made a positive impact on people.”

Football coach Shawn Skinner agreed.

“When he entered a room you could feel his presence and it was always uplifting,” Skinner said. “He was as kind and positive a young man and he had a great way of lifting everyone up who he was around. “
Shonkwiler played football for his first three years of high school. Skinner said Shonkwiler worked really hard while on the team despite back and knee issues. He chose not to play his senior year but Skinner said that they still considered Shonkwiler part of the team.

“He was still a big part of us as he was close friends to all those senior players and a huge supporter of us,” he said. “He was truly a special young man. He had a real positivity and you just felt better spending time with him.”

Brooks said Shonkwiler’s loss is heartbreaking for the SJO community.

“More along the lines of tragic,” he said. “Great kid, great family and lost at way too young of an age.”
Brooks said one of his great joys as an educator is watching kids grow, getting to know them and then having a sense of fulfillment when they graduate and move on.

“One of the downsides of being an educator is when these types of tragedies happen to young people,” he said. “Sam was very well liked at school, as evidenced by numerous kids showing up to talk with counselors here on Monday. I also saw multiple SJO alums at one of his older brother Max’s friends house over the weekend supporting Max through this difficult time. So you can see the impact he had on other people, and the impact his loss is having on others. Sam will be missed my many. All of our hearts go out to Sam’s entire family during this extremely difficult time.”

Shonkwiler is survived by his parents, Craig and Carly (Koebel) Shonkwiler, brother Max Shonkwiler of Champaign, grandparents Frank and Cindy Koebel of Monticello, grandmother Janet Shonkwiler of Monticello, great-grandmother Jean Ashbrook of Monticello, aunt Katie (John) Miglin of Bloomington, uncle Kent (Jenny) Shonkwiler of Bement, and cousins Calin, Ellie, and Aiden Shonkwiler.

A memorial fund has been set up in his name at the Gifford State Bank in St. Joseph. The fund will provide scholarships to Sammy’s alma mater, St. Joseph-Ogden High School, focusing on seniors who wish to receive training in construction building trades.