Community grieves for plane crash victims

NICEVILLE, Fla. (WALA) - A COMMUNITY GRIEVES

Monday morning, people gathered at Discovery Learning Academy in Niceville, a pre-school owned by Terresa Teutenberg. The loss of Terresa, Fred and their five children in a tragic weekend plane crash has rocked the school and Director Jennifer Langston.

“Terresa was a sister to me. She was like our family,” Langston said. “One breath, one second, one kid at a time. When I look at the kids faces, I know this is where Terresa wants me to be.”

Counselors have been brought into the school to talk to the children and the staff. Counselor Allison Posell knew the Teutenbergs from church.

“They loved with everything. They gave with everything. They served with everything,” Posell said. “When you think of the Teutenbergs, you think of somebody you want to know and be with.”

At some point, all five of the children - Emma, Ellie, Payton, Brendon and Will - went to the academy.

ACTIVE IN CHURCH

Greg McKinnon, Executive Pastor of Niceville First United Methodist Church, said the Teutenbergs brought a lot of life into the church.

“It’s hard to even describe the Teutenbergs,” McKinnon said. “When you see seven members of that family come into church ... They just light up the church.”

At First United Methodist in Niceville, the Teutenbergs were an active family that will be greatly missed.

“There’s a great sense of loss and shock and sorrow as we lost a family we love so much,” McKinnon said.

Sixteen-year-old Ashlei Breuwer, Terresa Teutenberg's oldest daughter from a previous marriage, wasn’t on Saturday’s fateful flight. She’s now the only surviving member of the family.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS PENDING

The Tuetenbergs were on their way home from a family reunion in St. Louis when the crash occurred. Fred was supposed to play in the church band Sunday morning. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.