Re: H5N1 in Michigan
Boy's death shocks town
Tuesday, September 05, 2006 LaNIA COLEMAN
THE SAGINAW NEWS
Logan M. Honsinger should have had the chance to get his new school clothes dirty today, the first day of school.
He should have had the chance to swing a fresh backpack over his shoulder, sharpen his No. 2 pencils, and rush to catch the bus on time.
Instead, the 10-year-old's desk in a fifth-grade classroom at Ling Elementary School in Hemlock will remain empty.
The straight-A student and avid athlete
died Sunday at Covenant Emergency Care Center. An
autopsy was to take place today to determine the cause of his death.
Complete obituary, A7
"I wondered why the church bells were ringing (Monday)," said Hemlock Public School District Superintendent Rudy Godefroidt. "My wife (Ellen) said the Methodist Church was ringing their bells. If it was Sunday, we wouldn't have thought anything of it, but it was out of place on a Monday morning. It makes sense now."
Godefroidt said little is known about the circumstances of Honsinger's death.
Reports indicated Honsinger started showing
flu-like symptoms at football practice Friday. He was in his first year as a member of Valley Youth Football, a community-based league.
Honsinger was the son of Michael and Sarah (Anthes) Honsinger and had three siblings.
Ken Ling, a Richland Township police officer and president of Valley Youth Football, said league officials agreed not to comment until they learn more details of the boy's death.
"At this point, we don't know a great deal," Godefroidt said. "We're all still in shock. The Honsingers are a popular family in the community ... very well-known and liked and very involved in the schools. Their kids are great, all of them.
"Our elementary school principal said Logan was one of the nicest kids he's ever met. He was a leader in the school and in his grade. He was a fantastic kid, and the Honsingers are a super family. This is so tragic. It's tough."
Hemlock Board of Education President Robert Wetherbee said Honsinger's death stunned much of the community.
"We're deeply saddened," he said. "Our prayers are with the family in hopes that their faith will give them hope. My heart goes out to this family. This is an unbearable event. I hope the family will draw on the school district and their friends for comfort."
School administrators planned to follow established grief counseling procedures today.
"The elementary school counselor will visit all of the classrooms," Godefroidt said. "The principal will read a prepared statement to the children and be there to answer questions. The kids who need extra attention can meet with a counselor. We have also contacted the clergy from the area and asked them to pop into the schools if they're available."
Administrators were unsure how well students would cope with Honsinger's death when they already have first-day-of-school jitters to overcome.
"It's a time when they're already uncomfortable because they're unfamiliar with their teachers, they don't know some of the students, they're in a new classroom," Godefroidt said.
He said because the students are at a transitional age, no one is sure what to expect.
"We'll have to watch them closely," he said. "We'll rely an awful lot on our teachers, and we'll do what's best for everyone. Some of it is going to be rough."
Administrators may encourage the students to make banners and goodbye notes or paper doves -- symbols of peace -- to take to the funeral home.
Honsinger also wrestled and played soccer and baseball.
He enjoyed fishing, swimming, riding
personal watercraft, tubing and spending
weekends at his
grandfather's cabin in Caseville.
Besides his parents, the youth leaves two brothers, 8-year-old Landon and 2-year-old Braydon; and a 6-year-old sister, Payton.
A funeral is planned for 11 a.m. Thursday at Hemlock United Methodist Church, where the Honsingers are members. Visitation is from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at W.L. Case and Co. Funeral Chapel, 201 N. Miller, and from 10 a.m. until the service Thursday at the church.
On Memorial Day this year, Hemlock community leaders dedicated the Hemlock Memorial Garden at the high school. The garden honors students who have died. Honsinger is the seventh Hemlock student to die since 2003, Saginaw News records show.
"It's unfortunate that we are going through this again," said Wetherbee. "I know we can pull through this together, as a family."v
LaNia Coleman is a staff writer for The Saginaw News. You may reach her at 776-9690.
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