Your Gifts Your Dreams Your Legacy
Since 1991, thousands of people have chosen to give to causes they care about through the Marshall County Community Foundation. Anyone can be a philanthropist. Whether contributing to an existing fund or starting a new one, charitable endowments at MCCF improve the quality of life for the citizens of Marshall County and succeeding generations. MCCF receives gifts from people who care about Marshall County communities, invests these gifts forever, and uses the investment earnings to make grants each year to charitable causes. On these pages are stories of MCCF donors who are among those that have made contributions aligned with their values, life experiences, interests and desire to help Marshall County communities thrive. There are stories of vision. There are stories of compassion and commitment for others. There are stories of dedication to the arts, education and the environment. There are stories of parents inspiring children and neighbors caring for each other. Whether you have a crystal clear concept of what you hope to accomplish with your philanthropy – or an idea that’s just taking shape – the Marshall County Community Foundation can help you achieve your philanthropic goals. Your options range from creating a named fund for the common good to address emerging and evolving community needs, to establishing a donor advised fund from which you will recommend grants yourself, to designating one organization to benefit from your gift in perpetuity. Whatever your wishes, your hopes, your dreams for the future of your community, a charitable fund at the Marshall County Community Foundation can make them a reality. MCCF can help make your generosity more personal and more powerful.
“Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it.” Wilfred Peterson
Helping Great Ideas Take Flight MCCF’s Community Impact Fund
Since 1991, donors to the Marshall County Community Foundation have built the community’s assets to $30 million and over $10 million has been returned to the community to support hundreds of charitable organizations and causes. With over 320 funds at the Foundation, donors can choose to support an existing fund or start a new one. For those that want to support special initiatives or ever-changing needs in Marshall County, giving to the Community Impact Fund is one of the most flexible and responsive of the Foundation’s funds in addressing new and emerging community needs. By 2014, more than $2.5 million had been distributed from this fund alone. Twice a year grants are awarded from the Community Impact Fund endowment earnings to fund programs of nonprofit organizations. These grants support specific projects in areas such as the arts, education, health and human services, recreation and the environment. Projects supported over the years include providing funding to the Marshall County 4-H Fair Board to build grandstand bleachers for year round events. Culver Boys and Girls Club was awarded a grant to help implement the Triple Play: Mind, Body and Soul program designed to emphasize good nutrition, regular physical activity and improvement of the children’s overall well-being. Funding was provided to help with start up costs for Heminger House to support victims of domestic abuse. Smoke detectors with strobe lights and horns were installed at The Whitlock, an independent senior living community in Bremen, to warn hearing impaired residents in the event of fire. Beyond the Boundaries received a grant to help fund training for elementary school teachers to learn new ways to tutor dyslexic students. A grant to the Trinity United Methodist Church provided funding for the Kid’s Hope
afterschool program for at risk youth. A grant to the Marshall County Humane Society made a much needed expansion of the facility possible. Marshall County Neighborhood Center received funds to remodel the food pantry to make better use of space. The Town of Bourbon received funding for playground equipment and a splash pad. With funds to purchase a vision screener, Marshall County Lions Clubs send volunteers to screen the eyes of preschoolers in our community knowing that often the earlier the vision problem is caught, the greater the chance that the problem is treatable. Plymouth High School was awarded a grant to purchase equipment for a new robotics club. As a result, the PHS Robotics Team exceeded first year expectations and progressed to the Vex World Championship in California. Marshall County communities become stronger and more vibrant with each grant that is awarded to support innovative and creative projects.
Honoring the past with a look to the future
Sesquicentennial Celebration marks beginning of Bourbon Public Library Endowment Fund A celebration of the past 150 years turned into an investment in the future when the Bourbon Sesquicentennial Committee made a decision regarding unused funds. Their plan was to establish an endowment fund at the Marshall County Community Foundation to support the Bourbon Public Library. Soon after, the first annual distribution gave a much needed facelift to the downstairs children’s area. The large-scale farm and countryside mural was designed to light up a child’s face and launch their imagination even before they reach the new worlds and adventures awaiting them on the shelves. Subsequent distributions helped purchase new touchscreen computers with educational interactive games, each with more than sixty programs and over 1,000 activities for children ages 6-14. Annual distributions from the endowment fund help fulfill the Library’s vision for establishing an active community center where individuals gather to explore, interact and imagine. Bourbon Public Library is a vital component of the community, joining libraries of all sizes across the nation in providing a place for face-to-face connection, supporting local culture, building citizens, educating individuals and fostering thoughtful communities.
Culver Kiwanis Club Embraces the Call
Changing the World One Child, One Community at a Time
When Jim Weirick and Jim Boswell began talking about a scholarship program for Culver Community High School students, they decided to dream big! They set the bar high – at $1 million – with the ultimate goal of having a self-funding scholarship program to award more than $40,000 annually for scholarships, something many families in the Culver-MontereyLeiters Ford area could use.
Weirick and Boswell were members of the Kiwanis Club of Culver. Shortly after the Club formed in 1996, they took up the challenge to start the Culver Alumni and Community Scholarship Fund. It started with a number of generous donations, the leading one from Ralph Winters to honor his wife Barbara’s retirement from the school corporation. Other donations arrived in all shapes and sizes. By 2003, their efforts were so successful that they started an endowment fund at MCCF. Weirick saw MCCF as the perfect vehicle for their Club’s program. From taking large donations to accepting stocks or real estate to handling a $25 per month gift, MCCF can accommodate every donor’s wishes. MCCF relieved a lot of headaches for the Club too. Contributions are automatically tax deductible and the Foundation handles investment of the endowed fund and all necessary paperwork. By 2014, the Club achieved one of their long term goals. Two $2,000 renewable scholarships are now awarded each year and one student receives the Barbara Winters Award for Excellence, a $1,000 one time scholarship. Weirick and Boswell firmly believed that the better educated Culver graduates become today, the better the prospects are for the entire community tomorrow. Kiwanis International was founded in 1915 on the ideal of changing the world, one child and one community at a time.
Community Park Blossoms from Successful Local Nursery Business Ray L. Price Memorial Fund
Nestled on the north side of Plymouth, Ind., Price Memorial Park is one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Ray L. Price founded Price Nursery in 1927. Originally located in South Bend, the nursery later relocated to Harrison Street in Plymouth and then, in 1945, to U.S. 31 bordering the north side of Plymouth-Goshen Trail. Price developed a spring-fed pond on the property in 1969, the first step in achieving his longtime goal of creating a community park. The nursery moved to its current location on King Road in 1985; most of the old nursery land was sold. The Ray L. Price Foundation, a nonprofit organization, is operated for religious, charitable and educational purposes for the benefit of residents of Marshall County and surrounding areas. Price Memorial Park, on Plymouth-Goshen Road, employs high school and college students during the summer months while offering swimming, fishing, a playground and picnic areas to its members. Memberships are open to everyone. The park also provides two pavilions and a gazebo which are often rented by members and community organizations for parties, picnics, weddings and baptisms. The Ray L. Price Memorial Fund was established at MCCF in 1997 to support operation of the park and, in turn, help support emerging community needs and development through a match from Lilly Endowment to MCCF’s Community Impact Fund. Another of Ray Price’s goals was to offer local students scholarships; that dream may be realized as the park grows. That is a goal Price’s nephew and current president of the board, Robert A. Price, still hopes will come to fruition.
Making Dreams Real
Bremen Dollars For Scholars Everyone has a dream - something they really want to accomplish. The Bremen Dollars for Scholars program is helping dreams become reality. As part of Scholarship America’s national network of locally based, volunteer-driven Dollars for Scholars (DFS) chapters, the Bremen DFS mission is to mobilize the community to support postsecondary success for local students. Over 500 similar chapters across the nation help hometown students achieve their educational goals by raising scholarship funds, establishing endowment, providing assistance with college readiness and the financial aid process, and distributing scholarships each year. The Bremen DFS began in 1988 with a handful of people reaching into their pockets for the $50 needed to complete the charter application. Soon afterwards, the first $2,000 was raised to qualify for a $1,000 Lilly Endowment grant and this new organization was well on its way. Altogether, in the first year of operation, the Bremen DFS organization awarded eleven scholarships totaling $7,100 with recipients receiving an additional $4,000 in matching grants. In 1996 Bremen Dollars for Scholars partnered with MCCF to establish both endowment and nonpermanent funds. Twenty years into the partnership, over $49,000 in scholarships have been awarded from these funds and they continue to grow to support future students as well. “By providing funds for continuing education opportunities, the dreams of our kids, and their kids can become real.” said Bruce Jennings, Principal of Bremen High School (2014).
Family Ties to Community Guide Legacy Giving
The Merlin and Margot Jones Scholarship Fund Merlin and Margot Jones had a deep attachment to the Plymouth community, having moved their family to the area in 1969. Graduates of Cornell College (Iowa), the couple married in 1952. Merlin enlisted in the United States Army. As a control tower operator, he developed a lifelong affection for aviation and flying. He ferried Piper aircraft from Kansas to customers as far away as Alaska; he loved tinkering with his experimental gyrocopter and Cessna 337 Skymaster. An engineer by trade, Merlin’s talent for innovation led a varied career path. He helped design rocket parts used in the space program, and engineered and patented complex machinery for the paper processing industry as Vice President at Bomarko, Inc. He worked as general manager at Skystream Airlines and plant manager at Wickes Mobile Homes. Merlin and Margot purchased and incorporated ANCO Office Products with their son, Jeff, in 1975. Four decades later, the business remains family-owned and operated by Jeff and his wife Lenore. When contemplating legacy gifts, Merlin and Margot carefully considered many options. The Marshall County Historical Museum was a logical choice; the Transportation Room is named in their honor. Merlin and Margot also wanted to support Marshall County students pursuing higher education. They chose to establish a scholarship fund at MCCF, recognizing the gift would continue to give. The stories of the 2014 scholarship recipients are inspirational. Each student was living independently while attending high school and, in spite of personal challenges, excelled in studies and extracurricular activities. Layla Milton (Argos) attends Ball State University studying genetics; Logan Richards (Plymouth) attends Purdue University studying biochemistry with plans to become a medical researcher. Though Merlin and Margot passed away before knowing the impact of their gift, each year stories like these will honor their legacy. 2014 Merlin and Margot Jones Scholarship Fund award winners met with members of the Jones family at the Marshall County Historical Society. Shown here are (l to r) Linda Yoder, MCCF Executive Director, Logan Richards, Jeff and Lenore Jones, Jonathan Jones and Layla Milton.
The Guild Funds
“A Life of Constant Contribution” It was family that drew Dr. Kent Guild and his wife Judy to Plymouth in 1961. Judy’s parents had a summer cottage on Lake Maxinkuckee and Judy spent every summer there with her family since age two. Kent and Judy met while attending DePauw University. They married in 1955 and, following medical school for Kent and a teaching assignment for Judy in Illinois, a medical internship in Indianapolis and some time in California where Dr. Guild was a medical officer in the United States Air Force, they moved back to Indiana to be near family and chose Plymouth as their home. Dr. Guild began practice with Dr. Louring Vore and Dr. Ronald Peterson at their offices on Washington Street. Dr. Guild thoroughly enjoyed his career as a family practice physician; it’s estimated that he delivered 2,000 babies and made hundreds of house calls, personally dispensing medical care and compassion to thousands of patients. Dr. Guild was active in his profession and he and Judy were both active in the community. While a medical student, Kent was the national president of the Student American Medical Association. He was a Diplomat of the American Board of Family Physicians. Dr. Guild was a co-founder and the first president of the Marshall-Starke Development Center. He was past president of the Plymouth Hospital Medical Staff, the Hospital Board of Trustees, the Marshall County Medical Association and the United Way. In 1966 he was recognized as one of five “Outstanding Young Men of Indiana” by the Jaycees. Athletics were always an important part of Dr. Guild’s life as well. His basketball career at DePauw University was recognized with his induction into their Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. Kent’s passion for sports continued in Plymouth where he became team physician for Plymouth High School and a co-founder of the Plymouth Athletic Booster Club. The Plymouth High School Athletic Department honored his 34 years of service by naming their new Athletic Training Center after him in 2006. Judy’s number one priority has always been her family. She has also been active in a number of community projects and organizations, including First United
Methodist Church. She is a member of Tri Kappa, ultimately serving as president of the State Council. She also served on the State Board of Mental Health, and the Plymouth Public Library Leasing Corporation. Dr. Kent and Judy Guild were recipients of the Foundation of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center 2001 Community Spirit Award.
The Guild Family Fund Dr. Kent Guild’s family roots in the Methodist faith trace back to his greatgrandfather who was a Methodist Circuit Rider in early days of Indiana’s statehood. The Plymouth First United Methodist Church was established as the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1836, the same year that Marshall County was organized. Its first services were in a log cabin across from present Centennial Park. The church’s present building at 400 North Michigan Street was built in 1915. Upon their arrival in Plymouth, Dr. Guild and Judy made the Plymouth First United Methodist Church their church home where they raised four children and gave many years of service in leadership, teaching, and labors of love. The church ministers to the Plymouth community and the world through gifts of worship, prayer, service, and treasure. The Guild Family Fund was established in 1996 by Dr. Guild and Judy to support special church projects and programs not funded by the annual operating budget.
The Dr. J. Kent Guild Memorial Scholarship Fund In 2007 soon after Dr. Guild passed away, longtime friends Will and June Erwin established the Dr. J. Kent Guild Memorial Scholarship Fund with the Marshall County Community Foundation to honor Dr. Guild’s remarkable life. Dr. Guild was a man known for humility and dedication to others. He valued teamwork, first as a star athlete himself, and later as the team doctor at Plymouth High School. The Dr. J. Kent Guild Memorial Scholarship Fund provides a scholarship for a senior involved in Plymouth High School athletics who consistently displays a positive mental attitude. The recipient of the scholarship exemplifies those qualities that Guild held most dear: a passion for service, unselfishness, and helpfulness on a daily basis and exemplifying teamwork on and off the field. When this fund was started, it was June Erwin that summed it up best when she said, “He lived a life of constant contribution. He had a real desire to make this a better community.”
Opening Minds to a World of Possibilities Ancilla College-Ruth and Lawrence Castaldi Scholarship Fund
As a young newly married couple in 1938, Ruth and Lawrence Castaldi ran a small grocery store in Ruth’s hometown of Logansport. They moved to the Chicago area when Lawrence started work at Midwest Spring Manufacturing Company. Midwest opened a plant in Mentone and the couple began looking for an Indiana town where they could raise a family. They settled on Warsaw, built a home there in 1954 and became very involved in the community. Lawrence, as a businessman and civic leader, was leading such efforts as the Chamber of Commerce, Kosciusko Community Hospital, Grace College, the Bowen Mental Health Center, and the United Way of Kosciusko County. In the late 1970’s, Larry Castaldi organized and became the first president of United Way of Indiana. Castaldi tirelessly visited United Ways, securing their participation in the new state association. He helped secure a start-up grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. of Indianapolis. Castaldi’s belief in United Way and his unflagging determination to mobilize that community building power to address statewide issues provided the visionary leadership which gave the Association its strong foundation. Upon Castaldi’s retirement as board chairman in 1980, the Association presented him with its first award, recognizing the invaluable contribution he had made to the United Way movement in Indiana. They named the award in his honor, as a lasting tribute to his undaunting spirit of voluntarism, the same spirit which the Association salutes today through the Castaldi Award. This award is presented to a volunteer or professional who has given personal, passionate, and persevering service to Indiana United Ways. Mr. Castaldi was one of the leaders in establishing the Kosciusko Community Hospital and Ruth was involved too as a volunteer at the hospital for 30 years. She also was active in Zeralda Reading Club, Garden Club, Kosciusko County Historical Society, Sacred Heart Church’s Bible study group and several bridge groups. She delivered Meals on Wheels until she was 90. After her husband died in 1985, Ruth continued living in Warsaw because, as she used to say, “this is where my life is.”
Longtime family friends, Will and June Erwin, helped familiarize the Castaldi family with Ancilla College. The Erwins spoke so highly of Ancilla that Mrs. Castaldi became interested and visited the college in 2005. Shortly after, Ruth made provisions in her will to start a scholarship fund. Both Ruth and Lawrence had been involved in several schools. Ruth liked giving to a Catholic college and she spoke often with her children, Diana (Castaldi) Scheeler, Becky (Castaldi) Jones, Loretta Castaldi and David Castaldi about how much she admired Ancilla. “My mother grew up during the Great Depression, really wanted to go to college but wasn’t able to afford it,” explained Becky. “She wanted to make this opportunity available for young people whose lives could be improved by going to college but who hadn’t earned academic or athletic scholarships and thus couldn’t afford it.” On June 2, 2008 the Ancilla College-Ruth and Lawrence Castaldi Scholarship Fund at MCCF was established as part of this estate gift. Mrs. Castaldi wanted to give to a place that helped people and she and her family wanted to leave a lasting legacy with this scholarship. The full impact is immeasurable as this support will drive the spirit and guide the minds of generations of students.
The John Marshall Legacy Society honors those who have made a commitment to support the future of Marshall County through a planned gift. Living members have made known their plans to provide future support through a bequest or other planned gift. Also recognized, in perpetual memory, are those individuals who have donated a legacy through their estate.
Keeping Alive the Memory of Five Courageous Plymouth Firemen Plymouth Fireman’s Memorial Scholarship Fund
On July 31, 1982, six firemen responded to an alarm of a house fire west of Plymouth which resulted in a tragic accident that will never be forgotten. Just after noon, the fire truck carrying volunteers from the Plymouth Fire Department veered off Highway 17 near West School. The accident took the lives of five firefighters. Randy Hansen, Dane Hoffhein, Alphonse Kriscunas, Brian Samuels and Gary VanVactor were all killed that Saturday afternoon. A sixth firefighter, Shawn O’Keefe, was the sole survivor. The community was in a state of shock. On August 4, families, friends, citizens and firefighters from all over the country filled the Plymouth High School gymnasium to mourn these men who lost their lives in the line of duty. Ed Sim cox, Indiana Secretary of State said, “The tragic death of these five public servants has stunned the city of Plymouth and the State of Indiana. Their sense of duty, which ultimately cost them their lives, is an example of courage to us all.” State Fire Marshal William Goodwin added, “A volunteer fire department is a close-knit unit of people. This feels like the loss of a brother or sister.” The Plymouth Fire Department worked hard to ensure the memories of the firemen were kept alive through special tributes and creation of the Plymouth Fireman’s Memorial Scholarship Fund. A non-profit organization was formed to administer the program and a golf tournament was organized. In 1996 the Plymouth Fireman’s Memorial Scholarship Fund was established at MCCF. Community support for this special fund continues through private donations as well as the annual golf outing that takes place the first Wednesday of June. Since 1983, seventy one scholarships totaling $50,000 have been awarded to Plymouth High School seniors. For his Eagle Scout Project, Lloyd Fisher, at age 17, dedicated a plaque to the firefighters in 1987 to encourage volunteerism and community service awareness.
Legacy of Gold
Wilma Leman and the Golden Girls of Bremen The Golden Girls of Bremen were perhaps the most loyal fans to ever grace school bleachers. Their story and their legacy lives on through a Friends of the Foundation award in honor one of their members. The Golden Girls, Wilma Leman, Doris Snider, Phyllis Waltz, and Margaret Ellen Widmar, attended Bremen school’s athletic contests, pep Wilma Leman sessions, musical and drama performances together. In 2003, when the award was announced, the youngest Golden Girl was 81. They had been going to school events for almost 16 years. The four women were sometimes nearly the only fans at games. They cheered through rain, sleet and snow. When Wilma passed away in March 2003, the surviving trio continued the tradition, although they said Wilma’s passing left a big void that they would never be able to fill. Wilma was their guiding light; she never gave up the fight even if “mega points” behind! At her funeral, over three dozen athletes wearing their letter jackets were her pallbearers. She had supported them; they in turn supported her. Wilma Leman lived life to the fullest. Her life was an inspiration not only to athletes, but to senior citizens and young people as well. Becky Stiles, Wilma’s only child, shared that her mother was also a great mom and grandmother. “She never missed a lick and supported her grandkids in everything they did –from athletics and academics to baton twirling.” The Friends of the Foundation award honors those who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of MCCF. The Board of Directors recognized that Wilma Leman was clearly exemplary in this way too. The award was announced at the MCCF 2003 Annual Meeting and $50,000 was contributed to establish the Golden Girls Scholarship Fund. Each year this fund supports scholarships for Bremen High School graduates. Phyllis Waltz, Doris Snider, Margaret Widmar
Saint Joseph Community Health Fund Helping Those Who are Medically Uninsured, Underinsured, or Underserved
In 1996, The Foundation of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center identified the need to create a permanent, endowed fund to support residents of Marshall County. Since 1999, the Saint Joseph Health Center has existed to assist those who are medically uninsured, underinsured and underserved in Marshall County. The need for access to quality healthcare continues to be great as healthcare laws and providers continually change. The Saint Joseph Community Health Fund was first established with gifts from Saint Joseph’s Hospital of Marshall County (now Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center-Plymouth) and the Saint Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary. It serves as the Health Center’s endowment to ensure, along with the support of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, that patients of Marshall County are able to receive the healthcare they need regardless of their ability to pay. With individual gifts and years of fundraising through The Foundation of SJRMC’s Catch the Spirit Gala event, the Fund has grown along with its impact on local residents in need of healthcare. Marshall County residents have contributed to the endowed fund knowing their gifts are providing a lifetime of support for the Health Center. Today, the Health Center is staffed by five employees, including a volunteer medical director and nurse practitioner and over nine volunteers who spend hours each week assisting with patient visits, answering the telephone, greeting patients and visitors, supporting the work in the medication assistance program and eligibility program. The Health Center has served over 23,000 patients through the years. The Saint Joseph Health Center has been a United Way Agency since 2010 and partners with many other agencies to help meet the transportation, living, nutrition, and economic needs of patients. After operating for 14 years out of facilities on Washington St (Plymouth), the Health Center relocated in 2014 to the new Community Resource Center (CRC). The move fulfills a dream of Dr. Rev. Ronald Liechty and the late Dr. Kent Guild, 2001 Community Spirit Award recipient, to see the Center easily accessible to impoverished and uninsured populations that most use the clinic’s outreach services.
Gift of Music Lives On
William E. Shemberger Music Scholarship Fund Bill Shemberger is best remembered for racing the back roads of Northern Indiana peddling band instruments. Though born into an Elkhart family of modest means, his parents insisted their children have a music education. Bill played the trombone; his sister, Hazel, played the piano. Their father worked for the railroad so Bill traveled free to Chicago for trombone lessons. By the time he was in high school, Bill was playing in dance bands all over Northern Indiana. When his father’s health failed and Bill became his parents’ sole support, he attended school by day, worked nights in a bakery and played with bands on weekends. Following discharge from the Army, Bill attended DePauw University to study music education. While there he became student assistant band director and he met his future wife. Marybelle Haab was also a music education major. He taught for a year in Martinsville, Illinois, before he and Marybelle moved to Plymouth. With a recommendation from T.A. Kleckner, Bill became band director at Plymouth in 1950 and taught for two years. Bill’s musical journey took a new turn when he purchased the Tanner Music Store. Bill knew all the band directors in the area so was very successful in the band instrument business. The store grew with a large inventory in records, sheet music, pianos, organs and stereo equipment. A studio operation provided lessons in all instruments including piano, organ, guitar, banjo and accordion. Bill sold the business in 1969. Belle Shemberger Henry started the William E. Shemberger Music Scholarship Fund in 1994 in memory of her husband and the many years he helped students connect with music. The fund awards a scholarship to a Plymouth High School Senior who has shown outstanding abilities in the area of instrumental music.
Legacy of Culver Service Continues Trone Family Fund
When it comes to knowing Culver history, Pete Trone’s reputation is legendary. His family connection to the area began over a century ago. And Pete and his wife Bev, like their predecessors, have been deeply involved in the community.
Those Who Came Before
Around the turn of the century the Peter B. Trone family of Indianapolis arrived at the Vandalia station in Culver for a vacation on Lake Makinkuckee. Going by boat to the southeast side of the lake, they felt isolated without any convenient transportation. The next summer they decided they would have their own horse and buggy. It was ten year old Donaldson G. Trone that drove the buggy the 110 miles from Indianapolis. He, along with a buddy, made the trip in three days meeting his parents when they arrived on train. As the years passed, Don Trone decided he would one day own a home on the lake. After World War I, he had saved enough to put a down payment on a cottage. So it was in February 1923, that he began what would be almost 50 years as an active member of the Culver community. In 1927 he married Almeda Daum. While they continued to reside in Indianapolis, they opened the cottage early in the spring and closed it in the fall. The Trones had one son, Pete, who also spent his early summers on the lake. In 1949, having tired of the many trips to and from Indianapolis, the Trones made Culver their permanent home. They purchased a building on Main Street and opened the Don Trone Shop, a ladies wear and gift shop. When Don passed away in 1970, his wife operated the store until it closed in 1978. Don Trone had a deep interest in the preservation and orderly development of the lake and community. He served as president of the East Shore Lane Neighborhood Association; as president and secretary treasurer of the Lake Maxinkuckee Association which he helped found; and was active in the Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club and Maxinkuckee Yacht Club. Don’s son, Pete, had watched with his family as the south shore of Lake Maxinkuckee began to develop into a nice residential area following World War II. The Culver Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce and Culver Academy explored the idea of comprehensive planning for the area. A planning committee was formed and the first comprehensive plan was adopted by the town of Culver in 1959. In those days, the concept was still new. Similar Indiana communities in areas such as Lakes Wawasee, James and Tippecanoe were pursuing plans with a concerted effort to incorporate lakes into local comprehensive planning. Don Trone and Eli Lilly from Wawasee successfully lobbied the state legislature
to create an act to permit planning that would incorporate and recognize the unique features of lake communities.
Legacy Continues
Pete began as a Woodcraft counselor in 1949. After serving in the military, he returned to Culver in 1953. He was a graduate of the Culver Naval School and worked year round in summer admissions at Culver Military Academy until 1977. He was also Director of the Woodcraft Camp from 1968-1977. Pete and Bev married in 1974 and have always been active in the community. It’s clear that Pete shared his father’s passion for community development. Pete was an original member and President of Culver’s first Plan Commission and continued to serve for 34 years on planning and zoning boards. He was also involved with Culver’s Chamber of Commerce, Antiquarian and Historical Society, Culver-Union Township Library Board, the East Shore Lane Neighborhood Association and Lake Maxinkuckee Association. Pete is a member of the Wythougan Valley Preservation Council and is also a member and past president of the Marshall County Historical Society. Both Pete and his wife are members of the Maxinkuckee Yacht Club. Bev was a member of the library staff at Culver Academies and a dedicated member of Kappa Kappa Kappa. The Trone Family Fund was established in 1997 by Pete and Bev and provides them the flexibility to choose which organizations or causes they wish to support with the annual distribution from the fund. The decision is one they discuss carefully since they have so many special interests. Their donor advised fund is a wonderful way for the Trones to continue their legacy of service to the Culver community and make a difference now and for future generations too.
Melba L. Reese Memorial Fund
Continuing God’s Work Melba Reese became the bride of Robert Reese in 1946 at a ceremony that took place in Norfolk, Virginia. Robert and Melba then moved to Tyner, Indiana, in October 1951 where they were co-owners of the Tyner Elevator. Melba’s engagement in the community didn’t stop there! Melba served as the Marshall County Recorder for eight years, on the Marshall County Council for four years and on the Drainage Board. She also served on the Marshall County Republican Women’s Committee and she was a member of the Tyner United Methodist Church. Melba Reese was a strong Christian and, as her son Gene shared, tithing and generosity were taught in her home. She felt strongly about continuing God’s work at her hometown church even after she was gone. In 1991-1992, Melba served as a board member for the Marshall County Community Foundation when the organization was very new. She understood the impact an endowment fund can have on the community. Melba wanted her blessings to be multiplied and her financial gift to be on-going and continuous. She wanted to help the less fortunate and spread the gospel. The Melba L. Reese Memorial Fund at MCCF was established in 1999 to support the work of the Tyner Methodist Church, originally through the United Methodist Women’s Organization and eventually through mission projects. Melba’s son Gene said, “It’s a gift to financially help others. Those that do not give may never realize the blessing the giver receives by helping others. It’s a choice; but an easy one.”
One Family’s Commitment to Community and Education
Lewis and Neva Mason Scholarship Fund Family, community, and education were important to Neva and Lewis Mason. Their decision to establish a college scholarship program to benefit Triton High School seniors reflects their passion. Neva graduated from Bourbon High School in 1945 and Lewis from Etna Green High School in 1943. And seventy years later, the family connection continues to be strong. Neva and Lew’s three children and seven of their nine grandchildren have either graduated or are currently attending Triton High School. Higher education has always been a priority for Neva and Lew. The G.I. bill provided the funding for Lew to attend his beloved Indiana University. Neva (Miller) worked at the First State Bank in Bourbon to finance her years at Manchester College, another Indiana school. Both of them thoroughly enjoyed their college years and treasured the strong friendships made there. Lew and Neva met and worked together at the First State Bank in Bourbon, Indiana. In 1960 Lew represented the second generation of Masons to assume top leadership in the bank following in the footsteps of his father, Ralph. For Lew and Neva, bringing these elements of family, community, and education together to strengthen Marshall County residents was a natural fit. The Masons felt very blessed by their community and started the Lewis and Neva Mason Scholarship Fund to give back. As Neva said, “We just felt that if a Triton student had the desire and ability to attend college but could use some financial help, our scholarship could offer that help.”
Thornburg/Donnelly Fund Maintains Family Ties
Strong Connections to Culver Continue The Thornburg and Donnelly families have a rich history in Marshall County. Ralph and Hazel Thornburg owned a Guernsey dairy farm in Hibbard, between Culver and Plymouth. They had two children: Ralph, who was killed in a World War II fighter plane, and Barbara (Bea). Barbara graduated from Culver High School, then Lasell Junior College (MA). Upon returning to Culver, she worked in the Culver Academies admissions department and met her husband, Al. Colonel Alfred J. Donnelly, a Culver faculty member from 1937-1975, had many talents. Math instructor, Woodcraft administrator, counselor of Company D, academic dean, first holder of the William Pitt Oakes Chair of Mathematics, co-author of several nationally-used textbooks: these headings summarized his professional work. It was his wit and personality that impressed most. Al graduated from Harvard and came to Indiana “because it was evident that there was something about Culver that kept boyish enthusiasm alive in grown men.� Barbara and Al had three children: Shaun, Lela, and Susie. Al and Lela have passed away and, while Barbara continues to live in the area, Shaun and Susie are on opposite ends of the country. Shaun has spent most of his career with the U.S. Department of State in a wide range of roles. Since retiring from the State Department in 2008, he remains active in the Washington D.C. area. He and his wife have two sons, Alex and Eric. Susie and her husband and daughter, Julie, live in Portland, Oregon. Susie teaches humanities in a middle school. Shaun established the Thornburg-Donnelly Fund at MCCF to honor his mother and maintain family ties to the community. The Fund supports the Culver-Union Township Emergency Medical Services, the Culver Union Township Fire Department, the Culver-Union Township Public Library, and the United Way of Marshall County.
Argos Community Honors Young Patriot J. O. Thompson Memorial Scholarship
First Lieutenant Jay O. Thompson served our nation, with honor, in the United States Air Force. A graduate of Argos High School and Purdue University, he rose to the position of instructor pilot in the Air Force Training Command, assigned to Vance Air Force Base at Enid, Oklahoma. In September 1972, at the young age of twenty-four, Lieutenant Thompson gave his life during a night training flight over Oklahoma when the jet aircraft he was piloting crashed in bad weather. Born in 1947 in rural Kansas, his father’s native state, Jay was two years old when his family bought a farm near his mother’s family farm in Marshall County and moved to Indiana. Jay was an energetic and outgoing farm boy who was active in sports, 4-H, band, and choir. He was a member of the Argos Chapter of Future Farmers of America and went on to be elected State Reporter in the Indiana FFA organization. In 1970, Jay graduated from Purdue University with a Baccalaureate degree in Agriculture, and he was proud to have completed student teaching assignments at Triton and Argos High Schools. Upon graduation, following the example set by his parents Carroll and Lida who served in the military during World War II, Jay was immediately inducted into the United States Air Force. The Vietnam War was ongoing, but like his parents, he felt the call of duty. The Argos community has a strong and proud history of military service. The patriotism of the community inspires its young. As an Air Force Pilot, Lieutenant Thompson was proud to serve his country in a way that was both challenging and exciting. His sudden accidental death was a striking example of the dangers of the position and it was devastating to his family and friends. The J. O. Thompson Memorial Scholarship was initiated shortly after his passing by members of his 1965 Argos High School graduating class. It is maintained today by the Marshall County Community Foundation. The scholarship helps fund an Argos High School graduate attending Purdue University and studying Agriculture.
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2701 NORTH MICHIGAN STREET • PO BOX 716 • PLYMOUTH, IN 46563 574.935.5159 • www.marshallcountycf.org info@marshallcountycf.org