Friends, family and faculty gathered at the Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro on Thursday, Oct. 16 to honor the life of Joseph Aaron “Joey” Ermel with the planting of a Butterfly Magnolia tree — a living memorial to a young man remembered for his kindness, creativity, and lasting impact on those around him.

Ermel, a Southern Illinois University student, died in a motorcycle accident in 2021 at the age of 19. The newly planted tree now stands as a tribute to his life and spirit, blooming with soft yellow flowers each spring. The color was chosen to represent the plane his grandfather once flew — a personal symbol of connection, remembrance and flight. Joey was known for his exuberant personality and his high engagement with his academics. 

“Joey was one of those rare students who was always engaged — the kind you could count on for a thoughtful answer when the room was quiet,” Mark Hebel, a professor at SIU, said. “He was a pleasure to have in class, always smiling and eager to learn.”

The memorial tree was made possible through community generosity. Planter and SIU alumnus John Schroeder, owner of Schroeder Landscape, donated the labor to install the tree after seeing how deeply Ermel was loved by those who knew him. The tree itself was donated by Plant Scape Nursery, reflecting a collective effort to create a lasting memorial in Joey’s honor.

“This tree means so much,” Ermel’s mother Aymee Zimmerman said. “I’ve wanted to do it for years, and to see it here — and to see how many people still love and remember Joey — it’s overwhelming in the best way.”

For those who knew Ermel, the tree serves not just as a reminder of loss, but as a celebration of a life that continues to inspire. As it takes root and blossoms year after year, it will stand as a symbol of growth, hope and the enduring connections that Ermel left behind.

“I met Joey my first week at SIU in fall 2020, when everything was shut down from COVID,” Matteus Thompson, one of his roommates, said. “He was the first smiling face I saw, and he made me feel like I belonged here. He was passionate about aviation and always willing to help with anything — school, flying or life.” 

Another one of Ermel’s roommates, Dale Miller, said Ermel loved what he did. 

“He’d spend mornings, evenings and weekends working to get better at aviation, and he never stopped encouraging the people around him,” Miller said.

Zimmerman said she wanted her son to be remembered as someone who always did his best and made good choices. 

“ He worked hard, cared deeply, and always found a way to lift people up,” she said.

Staff reporter Yahri Edmond can be reached at yedmond@dailyegyptian.com

Advertisement