Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Schnelle: journalist with passion for stories, dead at 23


Troy Schnelle, a writer for the Sarasota FLA Observer and SRQ Magazine, died in a freak accident outside his home Friday. Schnelle's parents live in Webb City and he has many family members in the Lockwood area.
SRQ Editor Lisl Liang praised Mr. Schnelle, saying:
"He was someone you could trust, even within the first few minutes of meeting him. A good writer is more interested in understanding someone else's life and seeing it through their eyes rather than through your own eyes. In the process of covering a story, he'd see things differently."


Memorial donations may be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Church Lighting Fund, P.O. Box H, 212 W. Fourth St., Lockwood, MO 65682.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

A BAC of .216 is nearly three times the legal limit in most states. Freak accident, indeed.

Anonymous said...

I am sorry to see the judgmental remark from anonymous. It's easy to use harsh words when the consequence-free vacuum of the blogosphere lets you. There's a reason why newspapers made people sign their names to letters to the editor.

Having seen the pain on the faces of Troy Schnelle's family and friends yesterday at his funeral, I guess I would counsel forgiveness and restraint.

The Herald-Tribune report does not mention that Schnelle worked two summers as an editorial intern at 417 Magazine in Springfield, where at all times he worked very hard and did very well. An obituary is to appear in our August issue.

Gregory Holman
Editor, 417 Magazine

Randy said...

Having known the Schnelle family for the past 27 years since I was the editor of the Lockwood Luminary-Golden City Herald, I will second what Mr. Holman said. The Schnelles are good people and no one should have to go through anything like this. As Mr. Holman notes, the nature of the blogosphere does seem to bring out the dark side of many of those who comment.

Anonymous said...

Another sad lesson to the dangers of binge drinking. His friends should share in the responsibility of his death.

Anonymous said...

Is it sad this young man died, absolutely. But at the same time, how sorry can I feel for someone who drank himself to death? Face it, binge drinking can kill. If this person got behind the wheel int his condition and killed others, would we all be reacting this way? I highly doubt it. I'm sorry if Mr. Holman thinks my words are harsh. Sorry ... this is real life.

Anonymous said...

The kid was only 23 and had just graduated college and barely started his future. He did pretty much what a lot of other kids in his age do.

Having lost a family member prematurely (traffic accident, no alcohol), I know his family feels like their hearts have been ripped out of their chests and that they will never really recover from his loss.

Self-righteous finger pointing is wrong, a deliberate attempt to inflict added pain on the rest of the family, and shows the true personality of those who would post such things.

WagerWitch said...

I don't want to say something that everyone will think is "bizarre" or paranoid...

But what if.... What if....

He was on to something big?

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Anonymous said...

First of all, I must state that I think it is very cowardly of you to make such a comment that does not even apply to the context of the situation, anonymously. Next, I could understand you making this comment if he had been behind the wheel of a vehicle and caused this harm to himself, but as is apparent in the article, which you obviously did not read very closely, he was not. He fell asleep or passed out, he didn't drive, he didn't perform any actions that would be particularly harmful to himself or others, he simply fell asleep in the wrong place at the wrong time, so despite your ignorant comment about the accident, it was indeed a freak accident. I hope that you never have to experience such a loss that his family and friends are experiencing right now, my sympathy goes out to them for losing such an important person in their lives and also for having to deal with such a cold hearted person as yourself during their time of sorrow. Also, from simply reading your comment I feel that you have no grounds for even having an opinion on the accident because I wonder, did you even know Troy?

Anonymous said...

What's this? You have to know someone to post an insensitive opinion about them? I don't know President Bush at all, but he seems like kind of a douchebag to me.

Listen, the kid's dead. A modicum of decorum would be in order.

That said, he had to have had a sense of humor to be a reporter.

Anonymous said...

Having read the above comments...I have seen it necessary to post my opinion. Until you can relate or know the situation, I don't think your opinion counts. I do not know this man personally, but it was a tragic instance and I pray that no one would have to go through such a thing like his friends and family had to. I can see it in his friends' eyes the pain and suffering even Troy must have felt.

Anonymous said...

Where is the sympathy for the poor driver, who while going about his business and trying to do his job, is now saddled with this and will likely be haunted for the rest of his/her life?

That person deserves as much or more sympathy than anyone....whether any of us know him/her or not.

Anonymous said...

More sympathty...come on anonymous, that is the dumbest thing you have said so far. I think you should read up before you start commenting. Yes, he will have guilt his whole life but because he will always wonder....Did I look behind me when I was backing up, or did I just drive back because it is 3 in the morning and no one will be there. This accident could have possibly been prevented on both parts, so I would not go off making this guy sound like a saint. Besides, what in the world do you have against Troy? It seems to me that one way or another, you are forcing the fault to him. You don't even know him, let it rest and leave him alone.

Anonymous said...

I am not a blogger. I am one of Troy Schnelle's uncles. My name is David Finck from Washington, Missouri.

It is true that hasty remarks bring an element of pain to this issue for our family. At times like this I need to remember to "Let the one without sin cast the first stone." I too, have been guilty of making hasty remarks on other issues. When I realized their shallowness, I apologized. Failure to apologize for making and defending hasty remarks says more about the person who makes them than about the person who is dead.

To Troy's anonymous detractors,I kindly ask, "Who is it that stands in final judgement over Troy?" Further,"How will Troy finally be judged?" "How will I be judged?" "How will you be judged?"

In the final analysis, what is it that we really need to know about Troy Schnelle?

There are only two things I need to know. The first is a prayer Troy wrote when he was 11 years old. I have a copy in Troy's handwriting that says:

"Dear Heavenly Father, Please do not let me die. But if it is your will then please comfort my family and help them when I am gone. I ask especially for you to take my soul to heaven. Thank you for letting me live on the earth this long. Amen"

The second thing we need to know about Troy is from an e-mail response to his godmother on May 22, 2006. He wrote to her:
"I'm really happy with life right now. I've got a great group of friends, a good pastor, and the best health of my life (no more allergies)...I'm constantly reminded what a blessed life I've been given."

Troy is gone from this earth, but what he has written testifies about who he really is. I knew Troy, and folks, this is who he really is.

Now, I have made many mistakes in my life worse than Troy, (or 'anonymous')may have made. Any honest living person must conclude that he (she) needs forgiveness too.

Troy realized that he needed forgiveness. He received that forgiveness by Christ's gift of faith to him. We have that full assurance about Troy because we know him and we know God's Word. We pray that his detractors will hear that same Word of Truth.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous:
Shame on you. Seems some peple like you just don't get it! Go away and stay away if you cannot show compassion to this family.

Anonymous said...

This is David Finck again. I feel the need to respond to the comment about 'anonymous' going away.

I am sure our family would not reflect condemnation of that nature. Neither would we encourage others to reflect such condemnation. We will openly recieve him (her)to help them understand that we love them too.

Our family also feels for the person who backed out of the driveway on the way to work. He had no reason to expect that Troy, or anyone else, would be there. He also knew Troy. I am sure he feels horrible. No one in our family holds anything against him either. We recieve him in love, knowing he also feels anguish.

Anonymous said...

There are many of us who have been equally intoxicated, especially in our early 20s.

He did not "drink himself to death" (although his death did result, indirectly, from drinking).

Most of us would have survived the incident, not been hit and learned from it. The time we slept all night on the driveway would have become another step on the path to self-awareness.

Unfortunately, his evening ended in tragedy.

His family deserves our condolences. At the same time, young people (all people) need to realize heavy drinking comes at some risk to the drinker and those around him.

It's all very sad.

Anonymous said...

I only knew Troy through church here in Sarasota. He was there every sunday. I didn't get to know his other friends in Sarasota, but would like to tell them that I'm so sorry. When I found out today (I've been out of town) that he died, I was shocked. My heart goes out to his family and friends. I knew him as a hard worker and an interesting, friendly person. I'm saddened that the next time I go to church he won't be there. I really enjoyed seeing him there.
Allison

Anonymous said...

Well, what can you say about this, To start with I am a good friend of Troy's we grew up together and to hear of the accident made me sick, I seem to take for granted the gift that means the most of all LIFE. There are still times that I get so mad at Troy for what happened. In part, I am also mad at myself for not doing more as a friend. This may sound strange but I remember all of the good times and some of the bad, weather or not Miss Rusch wants to admit it or not Troy had a drinking problem from the time we were kids, but no one wanted to face it. I tried to get him to stop but my words never did much good. I loved Troy like a brother we could understand each other, but now I am without a great friend. Although this might have been avoidable, it has happened and all I can hope for is to see Troy again someday. Until then, I will just remember the good times, and not worry about what is to come. In addition, I wish Dr. and Mrs. Schnelle the same. Rest in peace Troy.