Royal Purple

Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: News

Mueller [Click to enlarge]

DeGrave [Click to enlarge]

Two UW-Whitewater students died in unrelated car crashes during the summer.

Dion Mueller, 19, was hit by a vehicle July 21 in Sheboygan Falls after reportedly running a stop sign at a county highway intersection. Sheila DeGrave, 19, was driving in Illinois Aug. 7 when her vehicle reportedly drifted into the other lane and hit an oncoming semi truck.

Laura Shultz, long-time friend of Mueller, said knowing him was a blessing, and she will miss him because he was 'such a goof-off.'

"Every time I think about him I can picture his smart-alec grin spread wide across his face," she said. "He could always make you smile and was always joking around. I'm glad he was a part of my life."

Kirsten Howard, one of Mueller's best friends, said he was the most personable guy she ever met.

"He seriously could have a conversation with anyone no matter who they were, no matter what their age," Howard said. "He loved to laugh and have a good time. He was an incredibly special person who touched the lives of so many people."

Alexandra Heyn said she first started talking to Dion their freshman year of high school at Sheboygan Lutheran High because they were among the shortest people in the class. Together, they learned to dunk a basketball using a step ladder in the school gym.

"We were the most prone to be picked up and thrown on top of lockers, or just around in general," Heyn said. "When we graduated our senior year, Dion was a full foot taller than me and had been playing basketball and dunking without a step ladder for a couple of years."

Heyn said Dion wanted to know and be friends with everyone.

"He was fun and giggly and instantly drew people closer to him just from his personality," she said. "He was always up for doing whatever and made everything ten times more fun.

"If there is a story with Dion in it, I guarantee you will laugh your ass off when you hear it."

Dion's graduating class at Lutheran High had less than 70 students in it and they were all close, Heyn said.

"Without Dion, there is a huge void in all of our lives," she said.

Heather Saffran, DeGrave's cousin, said she was a kind and loving person.

"Sheila was always willing to help people out," Saffran said. "[Even] if she already had something to do, she would put her stuff aside to help others. She was always smiling and laughing no matter what kind of day she was having."

Saffran said DeGrave was a member of Future Farmers of America in high school and loved animals. She also was involved with 4-H.

Hannahrose DeCaster went to high school with DeGrave at East Troy High School and created a facebook group in memory of her life.

"I'm sure she's in a great place because she was a kind, helpful person to everyone," DeCaster said. "She was going to be a vet and she loved her friends, family, and animals."

Meuller reportedly ran a stop sign and crossed the path of a deputy responding to a call about 1:30 a.m, according to a press release from Sheriff's Capt. Cory Roeseler.

The deputy - Brent J. Multer, 36, of Sheboygan Falls - was southbound on County Highway OK and Mueller was westbound on Stahl Road, which has a stop sign at Highway OK.

Mueller's car rolled into a ditch, striking a telephone pole before coming to rest upside down. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

DeGrave was driving her Chevy truck about 1 a.m. on U.S. Route 20 about a half mile west of the township of Garden Prairie, Ill., where witnesses say the vehicle drifted into the other lane and made contact with the semi.

DeGrave was flown to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center where she died due to accident-related injuries.

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