The Ave Maria SocietyNewsletter
The Planned Giving & Endowment Society of Mater Dei High School Vol. 11 - March 2024
The Mater Dei High School O ce of Advancement and the Ave Maria Society would like to invite you to our annual
Ave Maria Morning
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Mater Dei High School • 1300 Harmony Way, Evansville, IN 47720
Join us in recognizing the impact of the Ave Maria Society on Mater Dei and learn about our plans for the future from President Deacon Dan Niemeier.
All MD Alumni, Friends, and Parents are welcome!
Schedule: 7:45 a.m. - All School Living Rosary and Mass (Kempf Auditorium) 9:00 a.m. - Breakfast & Presentation (Reverend Nunning Media Center)
Please RSVP by Thursday, April 19, 2024 to Mallory Hertel, 812-421-5727, ext. 405, mhertel@evdio.org
MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL - MARCH 2024 1
Ave Maria Society
Gary ‘76 and Kim Alles
Ronald ‘64 and Margaret (Bradley) ‘66 Angermeier
Kenneth E. and Diana G. Arbary
John Barthel ‘65
Dan and Andrea (Boots) ’96 Baumann
Mariann Baumgartner ’58 †
Maurice ‘60 and Cherie (Berendes) ‘60 Berendes
Pat and Beth Blankenberger
Steve ‘65 and Judy Blankenberger
Brandon ’98 † and Lindsey Boots
Ira Joseph † and Dorothy Jane † Boots
Ira Gerard ’72 and Theresa (Seib) ’72 Boots
Thomas ’65 and Deborah Borries
Rose (Brenner) Breivogel ‘55
Fr. Raymond Brenner
Virgil ’64 and Joan † Brenner
Ronald ‘52 and Patricia Browning
Jerry and Cherie (Nemer) ‘75 Burgdorf
Juanita Byers
Theresa (Dezember) Chapman ‘71
Justin ’56 and Shirley (Adler) ’59 Clements
Jack ’60 and Phyllis (Kruse) ’72 Corn
Allan Crane ‘59
Alan † and Mary Jane (Muensterman) ’52 † Dale
Julie (Fechtmeister) Deeg ‘72
James † and Doris (Mayer) ‘52 Dewig
Randal Dick ‘78 †
Timothy A. Dickel
Rodger Duncan ’60
James † and Rosalie Dunkel
Mike † and Clarita † Ellert
Fr. James Endress †
Rita ‘55 and Richard Eykamp
Butch ’66 and Linda Feulner
Fifth Third Bank
Harold † and Mary Lou † Forche
Theresa Frielinghausen
Bishop-emeritus Gerald A. Gettelfinger
Andrew ’65 and Darlene (Folz) ’64 Goebel
Elmer Goedde †
Harold ‘51 † and Sylvia (Niemeier) ‘53 † Gossman
Michael ‘78 and Melissa Gossman
Jerry ’60 and Pamela (Heathcotte) ’60 † Gries
Raymond ‘63 and Janette (Duncan) ‘65 Gries
Robert and Judy (Eisterhold) ’60 Griffin
John R. Groben †
Ralph and Linda (Will) ‘62 Hague
Fred ‘64 and Mary (May) ‘64 Happe
Jeff ‘84 and Leanne † Happe
Theresa (Boots) ’69 † and William ’60 † Helfrich
Cheryl Herrmann ’71
Jeremy ‘98 and Jennifer Herrmann
Scott Herrmann ‘01
Joshua Hodge ‘99
Ronald ’59 and Kathy Hollander
John R. and Ann (Logel) ’66 Johnston
Gregory † and Edwina Kempf
Harold ’54 and Shirley Kempf
Robert King ’58 †
Gregory ‘73 and Linda Kissel
Edward ’59 and Judy (Seibert) ’60 † Knapp
James ’68 † and Elvira Knapp
Bill † and Carroll Knight
Dear Friends,
As I reflect on my personal journey since becoming President of Mater Dei, I am continually inspired by the unwavering dedication and passion of our Mater Dei community. Together, we have upheld the tradition of excellence that has defined Mater Dei for the past 75 years.
As we celebrate our rich history, we look forward to the future with a steadfast commitment to transforming, elevating, and enriching the Mater Dei experience for generations of students to come. Building upon the strong foundation laid by those who have come before us, we aspire to equip our students to reach new heights of academic achievement, spiritual growth, character development, and community engagement.
I am grateful and humbled to lead this extraordinary community. I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to our loyal Ave Maria Society members who are truly in a class of their own. With the support of our members, our efforts to ensure stability and sustainability are fortified, paving the way for Mater Dei to thrive for another 75 years and beyond.
I strongly encourage you to join us and invite others as we come together to learn more about our planned giving and endowment society and our plans for the future of Mater Dei. Regardless of the size of your gift, your support ensures the next generation of students will benefit from a Mater Dei education. I hope to see you at our annual Ave Maria Morning on Thursday, April 25th.
In Christ, Through our Blessed Mother,
Deacon Dan Niemeier ‘80 President, Mater Dei High School
2
MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL - MARCH 2024
Ave Maria Society
God, Family,Country,& Mater Dei
Terry Crane ‘56 was raised with his younger brother and sister on the west side of Evansville at the top of Maryland Street, about two blocks from what is now the entrance to Mater Dei High School. During his younger years, it was only an empty lot on the peak of a grassy hill sloping down into a valley where the school would later be built. The area was a natural attraction for Terry and neighborhood friends to play and explore before becoming a place to watch the excavation of the land as Mater Dei’s foundation was laid.
In 1953, Terry went on to attend Mater Dei, where he formed new friendships and grew in his existing friendships with classmates from Sacred Heart. He was particularly interested in the wrestling and football programs and carried an affinity for them throughout his life.
Upon graduation, Terry went on to serve in the United States Air Force. As a child during World War II, Terry was exposed to much of the home-front war effort in Evansville and was very inquisitive about what he saw and heard. This curiosity led to his lifetime interest in military history, and a deep respect for those who were on the front lines of this history.
After Terry passed away in March of 2022, his brother, Allan ’59, and sister, Connie (Crane) Schnapf ’63, established an endowment that offers tuition assistance for students whose parents are current or former members of law enforcement or military, or have been disabled in the line of duty.
This history of family military service and the knowledge of the sacrifices and monetary hardships that military and police families face inspired the creation of the endowment by Terry’s siblings. Terry inherited his parents’ legacy of generously supporting the Catholic Church during their lifetime, which they demonstrated by gifting the land that Mater Dei was built on to the Catholic Diocese of Evansville. Terry would be most pleased to know that an endowment to Mater Dei was established in his name, continuing his parent’s legacy of supporting the school that earned his lifelong affection.
His brother Allan shares, “It’s fitting that Terry’s endowment not only remembers him but also indirectly honors the foundations and influences in his life: God, family, country, and Mater Dei.”
Patricia Koch
Robert ‘56 and Cynthia Koch II
Larry ‘59 and DiAnne (Stevens) ‘60 Kremer
Rose Kuhn ‘55 †
Fr. Raymond Kuper †
JoAnn Laugel ‘66
Jack † and Anna † MacGregor
Jerry † and Charlotte MacGregor
Jeffrey and Debra Marx
Mater Dei High School Teachers
Mater Dei Friends & Alumni Association
Mater Dei High School
Thomas ‘56 † and Mary (Koressel) ‘55 † May
Paul ’67 and Nancy (Morrow) ’67 Mayer
Betty (Bristow) McAtee Singer ’50 †
Robert ’62 † and Jane Miller
Joe and Wynn Mitchell
Mary Kay (Koch) ‘58 and James Muehlbauer
Deacon Daniel ’80 and Laura (Tenbarge) ’80 Niemeier
James A. Niemeier ‘69 †
Stephen ‘65 and Stephanie Niemeier
Tom ’55 and Joanie (Berendes) ’55 Niemeier
Deacon Richard ‘50 † and Betty Joan (Martin) ‘50 Preske
Timothy Quinton
Kent ‘77 and Laura (Eickhoff) ‘80 Reddington
Rex Mundi High School
Rich Risemas
David ‘70 and Darlene (Nix) ‘70 Robinson
Rose Rogge
Robert † and Rosemary † Rooney
Donald and Patricia Rupprecht
Robert ’58 and Mary Lue (Neale) ’58 Russler
Walter † and Irene † Ruston
Oliver and Mary Ann (Kuhn) Schapker
Leroy Schenk ‘60 †
Allen ‘62 and Linda Schmitt
Connie (Crane) Schnapf ‘63
Fr. Edward Schnur
Larry and Janice (Goebel) ’64 Schuble
Jack † and Catherine Siemers
Stan Singer ‘57 † and Lenna DeMarco
Sr. Mary Carmel Spayd
Sr. Mary Carmen Spayd
Joseph T. Theby, III
Thomas O. Tighe ’62 †
Dan and Gail (Brack) ’58 Titzer
Ross and Jennifer (Knapp) ‘93 Vaughn
Cliff ’88 and Sarah (Titzer) ’88 Wagner
Robert ‘58 † and Judy † Wargel
Fr. William Wargel †
Al ‘55 and Darlene (Berendes) ‘55 Weinzapfel
James ’61 and Sandra (Runau) ’63 Weinzapfel
Jerome † and Helen (Folz) ‘51 † Weinzapfel
Joseph ’87 and Rhonda Weis
Diane Weiss-Altstadt ‘67
Frances A. Wheeler
Thomas ’71 and Carla Wildeman
James ’51 † and Eileen (Berendes) ’51 Will
Leonard Will, Jr. ‘64
Leonard † and Dolores † Will, Sr.
Robert and Kathy (Emge) ’66 Wittgen
John † and Marian † Witting
MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL - MARCH 2024 3
(continued)
Terry, US Air Force, 1957
Set to Succeed
Rose (Brenner) Breivogel ’55 was raised on a small farm with seven siblings. Money wasn’t abundant, but faith, strong work ethic and family were. Rose witnessed the many sacrifices that her parents, George and Marie Brenner, made to send 7 of the 8 kids to Mater Dei, the exception being fellow Ave Maria Society member, Father Ray Brenner, who attended Saint Meinrad as a seminarian. Rose states, “We didn’t have much money, like everyone else, and it was a struggle for my parents to afford tuition. One thing that was very important to my parents was that we all receive a good, Catholic education as my parents had received growing up.” Rose recently established the George and Marie Brenner Endowment to honor her parents who scarified so much for her and her siblings to give them the foundation they needed to succeed throughout life.
She added, “I feel like Mater Dei provides a good, faith-based education that will set students up to succeed in whatever career path they choose. They need basic faith-based principles and Mater Dei helps them get there.”
She went on to say, “I feel drawn to Mater Dei as my siblings and I were able to attend. I received an education that helped me get a good job where I was able to support myself. Now, I just want to help others.” The George and Marie Brenner Endowment benefits both our general operating budget as well as tuition assistance to help hard working families, like the Brenners, afford an excellent Catholic education at our beloved Mater Dei.
Who are members of Mater Dei High School’s Ave Maria Planned Giving & Endowment Society?
They are everyday people with a passion for Mater Dei and her mission to educate young people in a faith-filled environment. They are people who choose to honor loved ones with a lasting gift. They are friends and alumni dedicated to the past, present, and – most importantly – the future of Mater Dei High School.
Becoming a member is simple. We can provide resources to help determine which planned giving option is best for you, including bequests, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), charitable gift annuities, endowments, and life insurance. Once you have made a planned gift or established an endowment with Mater Dei as the beneficiary, notify the Office of Institutional Advancement and you will become an official member of the Ave Maria Society.
For more information contact:
Deacon Dan Niemeier ‘80
President, Mater Dei High School
(812)421-5727
dtniemeier@evdio.org
Mallory Hertel ‘07
Director of Advancement, Mater Dei High School
(812)421-5727
mhertel@evdio.org
4 MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL - MARCH 2024
Rose and her siblings celebrate their brother, Father Rays, 50th anniversary of his ordination in May 2019. He holds a picture of their parents, George and Marie.