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Troy L. Schueller, 42

A good man was what Troy Schueller strived to be in life. His family was always his first priority; however being a true friend and an effective educator were a very close second. He will be missed by all the lives he touched as he passed away at his home at the age of 42 on March 21, 2018.

Troy Lee Schueller was born on July 31, 1975, in St. Maries, Idaho, to Timothy and Bonita Schueller. He attended schools in St. Maries, where he participated in baseball and football as a kid. However, his true passion was wrestling, something that was a part of his entire life. While in high school, he worked for J & R Rigging and Jack Buell Trucking. His initial ambition was to drive a logging truck for Jack Buell when he graduated, but a car accident that led to a back injury and surgery that cut his senior wrestling season abruptly short changed his career path forever. When the doctor told him he should not have a career that involved physical labor, a good friend encouraged him to become a teacher and wrestling coach instead.

When he graduated from St. Maries High School in 1993 with honors, he attended Lewis-Clark State and earned his bachelor’s in elementary education in May 1997, also with honors.

While he was a student teacher in St. Maries and Kellogg, he called an old high school girlfriend and asked her out on a date, and they have been together ever since. Troy married Saprina Epler on July 29, 2000, and also became a dad to a daughter, Ashley Mae.

Together they built a house in Pinehurst, Idaho, and Troy began his career in education at Kellogg Middle School as a teacher and coach of the middle and high school wrestling teams. Coaching was one of the biggest highlights of his career, and he coached a very special group of young men who as adults became some of his best friends. Prior to his last year of coaching, his team was involved in a bus accident where the driver tragically lost his life. Troy’s priorities shifted with this event, and he decided to coach just one more year in order to pursue his master’s degree in educational administration and to spend more time with his growing family. In July 2001, his son, Hunter Lee, was born. The year following, he wrapped up his coaching career when his team earned a third-place trophy at the state tournament, and he dyed his hair purple to fulfill a promise to his boys. While he was coaching he was selected as the District 1 3A Coach of the Year, and the state of Idaho gave him an Award of Excellence for Exemplary Display of Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity.

Troy earned his master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Idaho in 2003. His first job in administration was at Canyon Elementary in Rose Lake, where he was both a teacher and principal. While in this role, he was awarded the Kellogg School District Teacher of the Year Award. In 2005, Troy moved on to Kellogg High School, where he was the athletic director and assistant principal for two years, and the principal for one year.

In 2007, Troy made a huge career change and moved his family to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He was the assistant principal for eight years, primarily in charge of discipline. Although he had to be the “heavy,” he still focused on having positive relationships with students, parents and the community. Troy was very honored in 2016 when he became the principal at Coeur d’Alene High School. His No. 1 goal was relationships and to improve the climate. One step he took was to greet students every morning as they entered the building. Troy truly loved his staff, students and parents that he served, and would go above and beyond to help in any capacity.

During his administrative career, Troy remained active in the wrestling community by being a referee for both high school and college sports. He also served as the tournament director and head official at the NJCAA wrestling championships. This past year, he was the head official for the state of Idaho.

Troy’s hobbies and passions included hunting, golf, traveling, music, family traditions and holidays, cooking and sports, but especially traveling and watching his own daughter and son.

Troy is survived by his wife, Saprina; daughter Ashley and son-in-law Austin Caywood; and son Hunter and grandchildren Rayah and Logan. In addition, his parents, Tim and Boni Schueller; his sister and brother-in-law, Amanda and Brad Beckner and his nephews, Chase and Brady; along with his beloved grandmother, Janie Blevins. His in-laws include John and Kathleen Epler; and sister and brother-in-law, Kirk and Angie Lauer; and his nephews, Wyatt, Tucker and Trevor. His extended family includes Dave and Kris Brusseau, and their children, spouses and grandkids. He also had numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Francis and Mona Schueller, Grover Blevins, and Howard and Lena Ebert; and sister-in-law, Monica Epler.

Because his Viking family meant so much to him, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Troy Schueller Memorial Fund at Mountain West Bank. All proceeds will be donated to CHS extra-curricular programs to support the students Troy so dearly loved.

Memorial service for Troy will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 8, 2018, at the North Idaho College Christiansen Gymnasium, 1000 W. Garden Ave., Coeur d’Alene.

English Funeral Chapel in Coeur d’Alene has been entrusted with the arrangements. Visit Troy’s memorial and sign his online guest book at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.