Members of a school crisis team remained at Marshall Middle School Wednesday to help students and staff cope with the loss of longtime physical education teacher James Daniel.

Mr. Daniel died unexpectedly Monday night of a stroke at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.

"The kids are really shaken up by this," said Principal Robert Van Valkenburg. "They just adored him. He was very well thought of and well-respected by kids and the staff."

According to Van Valkenburg, Mr. Daniel had been around the area “for a long time.” He grew up in Westland and attended Marshall Middle School. His son, James Daniel II, also is a student at Marshall.

A 1981 graduate of Wayne Memorial High School, Mr. Daniel attended Eastern Michigan University, graduating with three degrees – bachelor of science, master’ of science and physical education and master of arts in educational leadership.

Mr. Daniel was head of the physical education department at Marshall and coached the boys’ wrestling team and boys’ and girls’ swim teams. He also coached girls’ softball and up until this year, was the varsity swim coach at John Glenn High School.

The news of his death came as a shock to the staff and students. Van Valkenburg said Mr. Daniel was very active and worked out every day,

“I know there were always kids around him, he was always talking to the kids,” he said. “The kids really adopted him, especially the wrestling team.”

According to his family, Mr. Daniel’s love of sports started at age 5 when he started working out by lifting weights in the basement with his father.

“His love of sports started then,” they noted in announcing his death. “He was an outstanding wrestler and baseball player. He loved swimming, tennis and golf and watching all sports on TV.”

On Tuesday, students made posters to remember him and some asked for his photograph to carry with them, Van Valkenburg said. Those students seeking help were counseled in vacant classrooms around the school.

“This is really hard for the kids,” Van Valkenburg said. “They may see something like this at home, but not in school where you see someone everyday.”

“There wasn’t anybody who put in more time than Jim did,” he added. “He will be sorely missed.”

In death, Mr. Daniel “gave the gift of life – his organs, saving two children so far at Mott Children’s Hospital,” according to his family.

“He will be deeply missed,” they noted.

Mr. Daniel is survived by his father, James Daniel; children Megan Elizabeth and James David Daniel II; their mother, Karen Ann Daniel; his fiancee, Cherie Crowton, and her son Austin Jackson; and sisters, Denise and Deborah Daniel. He is preceded in death by his mother, Louise Daniel.

Visitation 5-9 p.m. today and noon to 9 p.m. Friday at Vermeulen Funeral Home, 980 Newburgh at Marquette in Westland. The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church, 36125 Glenwood, Wayne.