Staff writer
In an emotional pause Jan. 12 between basketball games at Centre High School, the Centre community honored the memory of James Weber, a member of the class of 2009.
Weber, of Ramona, and Jeremiah Stang of Marion died in July as the result of a two-vehicle accident on a country road in northern Marion County. Two others involved in the accident recovered from their injuries.
Representing the Centre community, Wendy Funk presented Weber’s family with a check for $3,760, for the James Weber Scholarship Fund for Centre High School graduates.
The money was raised in several ways. Western Associates designed and donated T-shirts sold in Weber’s honor. A James Weber Memorial Softball Tournament was established in October at Lincolnville. It was sponsored by Tampa State Bank, MachineTools.com, and The Spot, Herington.
Proceeds from concessions also were donated to the scholarship fund. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans contributed matching funds. The tournament is expected to be an annual event.
Basketball was Weber’s favorite sport. His classmates presented his family with his basketball jersey, No. 23, in a glass-front wooden case. The case was built by Weber’s sister, Anna Weber, in the high school wood-working shop with assistance from instructors Yvonne Burhoop and Cary Granzow.
Classmates also unveiled a bench installed just outside the main high school entrance in Weber’s memory.
Weber’s mother, Lisa Hanschu, spoke to the crowd in a moving address, thanking them for their support.
“We are a community united in tragedy and a community united in healing,” she said. “We cannot question what could have been, but rather we need to be grateful for what was.”
Other memorials
Several other memorials have been established in Weber’s honor.
The family donated a wooden bench to the city of Tampa. It was placed at the bus stop he used when the family lived in Tampa.
The family also donated a granite bench to the city of Ramona. It sits at the basketball court where Weber spent “countless” hours with friends. The bench features a picture of Weber and his saying, “Suck it up, it builds character.”
A small plot of land at the accident scene at 240th and Nighthawk roads was donated by David Mueller of Tampa for public memorials.
Gary Diepenbrock of Lincolnville donated a large granite monument that sets at the site. It contains pictures of both boys and quotations from the Lord’s Prayer.
The site also contains a large oak cross donated by the Enno Burhoop family, and two solar lanterns, one for each boy.
A wooden memorial bench sets nearby, donated by Weber’s grandparents, Frank and Anna Stika, his uncle and aunt, Tom and Lori Moldenhauer, and cousin Nikki Stenzel.
Many flowers and memorials remain there from friends.
“Through the actions of each of you and countless others, we know that because of you, James will never be forgotten,” Hanschu said.