Harrison Remembered At Vigil

Billboard at Ottawa Church. Photo by Jeremy Aitken.

“A soul of a community hurts”.

Those were words of Reverend John Nordstrom of Christ Community Church when remembering former Ottawa High School Superintendent John Harrison.  Nordstrom said whether its Harrison’s tradition of welcoming students at the top of the high school steps or opening his office to staff, these things “will never be the same after this week”.

Several other pastors joined Nordstrom in offering prayers for the crowd that included students and staff of OTHS and just people from the community.

Services Set For Superintendent Of OTHS

41 year old John Harrison IV of Dayton Township died Sunday at his home.

Services for John Harrison are Thursday at 11 at St. Columba Church in Ottawa.  Visitation is Wednesday from 2 until 7 at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.  Burial is at St. Columba Cemetery. 

Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa is handling arrangements.

Harrison On Leave Before Death

Former Ottawa High School Superintendent John Harrison had apparently been on personal leave for two weeks before his death.

School Board President George Hupp says Harrison asked for and received some time away from work to deal with a personal issue unrelated to the teacher’s strike.  In the time that Harrison took away, Hupp says Principal Matt Winchester took the lead in school operations.  Winchester is now the interim superintendent.

Hupp calls the death of Harrison a tragedy, saying he looked forward to Harrison leading the district for years to come. 

Hupp says he and the board found out about Harrison’s death while in negotiations with the teacher’s union but felt the meeting should go on.

Vigil Planned Tonight After Harrison Death

To help deal with the news of Ottawa High School Superintendent John Harrison’s passing, a prayer vigil is scheduled for tonight.

The vigil will run from 7 until 9 at the 807 Building, or Jeremiah Joes in downtown Ottawa.  Reverend John Nordstrom of Christ Community Church will lead the vigil.

Tomorrow, the school district will make available a crisis team for grief counseling at Jeremiah Joes starting at 9am.