Chris Schremp looked around the Prairie Ridge gymnasium at about 1,000 people who would rather not have been there, yet would not have missed the event for anything.

“I don’t think there’s one person in this room who John didn’t affect in a positive way,” the Prairie Ridge football coach said. “We can all do that.”

The words from Schremp and others that flowed across the gym Tuesday night were words of love and encouragement from a man who exuded both every day as a coach and teacher.

John Mason, 42, died Thursday at his family’s home in Crystal Lake. His death shocked and shook the Prairie Ridge community, as someone who found good everywhere was suddenly taken away. He and his wife, Michelle, have 10-year-old twins, Natalie and Zach.

“Today, we feel blessed and robbed,” said Stephanie Dycha, John Mason’s sister. “Blessed to have had him in our lives, robbed that he is gone too soon.”

Mason worked 14 years as an assistant football coach on Schremp’s staff, serving as wide receivers coach on the Wolves’ back-to-back Class 6A state championship teams the past two years. He also taught in Prairie Ridge’s social science department, where he had an equally strong effect on his students.

The celebration of Mason’s life started with his sister, then went to a slideshow of pictures of him through his life. The last picture was Mason coaching with the Junior Wolves and his son, Zach, in his No. 8 jersey.

Mason graduated from Woodstock in 1994 and played football at NCAA Division II Winona State, where three of the state champs – Zach Gulbranson, Jacob Ommen and Joe Perhats – will play next year.

Colleagues, students and players knew Mason as someone who oozed positivity.

“Students loved him and flocked to him because he loved what he did,” Prairie Ridge Principal Steve Koch said. “A lot of people said they wish he knew how much he meant to them. Here’s my challenge: Tell people. Let people know they’ve made a difference with you.”

Offensive coordinator Joe Terhaar’s voice quivered as he talked about his close friend. Then, he drew some laughs when he said, “He would tell us to stop crying and hug each other.”

Terhaar brought Natalie and Zach up front with tackle Jeff Jenkins to lead a cheer that turned into a standing ovation, which the players then turned into a “Mason! Mason!” chant.

Former player Shane Evans spoke, followed by Jenkins, who teared up as he said, “You will always live on in our hearts and always be a part of us.”

Then Schremp finished the tribute, mentioning that a fund has been set up on the Prairie Ridge website for Mason’s family. Any monetary donations will be put into a scholarship fund for the children.

Schremp gave Natalie and Zach varsity jerseys – Zach got No. 6 and Natalie got No. 9, from John’s No. 69 at Winona State.

“You’ll always be a part of our family,” Schremp told them.

Schremp and his coaches appreciated the selfless attitude that Mason exhibited, as well as his boundless energy and enthusiasm. He said Mason was perfect for taking care of the @PrairieRidgeFB Twitter account. And he thanked him for coaching at every level and perhaps every position in his 14 years.

“John was just that guy,” Schremp said. “He was like, ‘Whatever the team needs me to do.’ ”

At the end of the celebration, the players then came onto the gym floor to lead the crowd in the Prairie Ridge fight song, just like they sing after every victory. It has been sung 39 times in the Wolves’ past 41 games.

That was followed by a Prairie Ridge postgame staple, Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” Dycha thought that was fitting since it was their first concert as children. They went with their mother, Bobbi, and their grandmother.

Just before the songs, Schremp made a suggestion for everyone in the gym.

“Think about doing something nice for somebody,” he said. “The world needs more smiles without John Mason in it.”

• Joe Stevenson is a senior sports writer for the Northwest Herald. He can be reached by email at joestevenson@shawmedia.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @nwh_JoePrepZone.