The New Richmond Exempted Village School District lost a popular coach and a loyal district supporter April 18 when Joe Middeler was killed in a mowing accident at him home near Moscow.
A1970 graduate of New Richmond High School, Mr. Middeler just completed his 15th season as varsity boys swim coach. He started the New Richmond Middle School swim program in the early 1990s and coached at that level before moving up to varsity. He also taught swimming for the New Richmond High School PTO and has been an OHSAA swim official for more than 30 years.
“This is a tragic loss for our district and the NR community,” said NREVSD Supt. Adam Bird. “Joe was a popular coach and school supporter for decades and will be missed.”
Mr. Middeler, 63, helped develop recent Division I college swimmers Nate Kramer (University of Cincinnati) and Alex Lewis (Cleveland State) and 2014 state qualifier Tyler David. He was inducted into the New Richmond High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 and was a substitute teacher at New Richmond for the past 25 years.
“Please keep the Middeler family as well as our NR family in your thoughts and prayers as we all lost a very special person,” said NRHS athletic director Doug Foote.
Mr. Middeler, who earned a BS of Education degree in physical education and health from Xavier University, served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Vietnam War (1971-72) and was a member of the New Richmond American Legion and VFW posts. He was a lifetime member of the Operating Engineers Union.
Visitation for Mr. Middeler will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 23 at the E. C. Nurre Funeral Home, 177 W. Main Street, Amelia. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 24 at St. Peter Church, New Richmond. Burial will be at St. Peter Cemetery in New Richmond. Memorial contributions may be made to the New Richmond Food Pantry.
Mr. Middeler was the husband of Denise Middeler and father of Jennifer Slone (Rodney) and Katie Middeler (Christopher Flaugh) and brother of Judy Middeler, with whom he coached at New Richmond, Joyce Webb (Mac), and Janet Bishop (Paul).