The Ave Maria SocietyNewsletter
The Planned Giving & Endowment Society of Mater Dei High School Vol. 12 - March 2025
Ave Maria Society
Kim and Gary ‘76 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
Larry ‘60 † and Ginger 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
Wilma (Rexing) Kain ‘55
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,
Planned giving is a powerful way to leave a lasting legacy while ensuring Mater Dei High School continues to thrive well into the future.
As you may know, Mater Dei has announced the Growing in Grace Campaign, which enables us to transform, elevate and enrich our beloved Mater Dei. This campaign has renewed our sense of community and the power of coming together. It has also underscored the importance of planned giving, reminding us that securing our future requires both reflection and action to build the stability our students and Mater Dei community deserve.
As part of the Growing in Grace Campaign, we are committed to investing in our students’ spiritual foundation, innovative academic programs, and enhanced facilities to support their growth and success. With the rising costs of education, maintaining excellence requires forward-thinking generosity. By including Mater Dei in your will or establishing an endowment today, you help safeguard the school’s mission, ensuring that future Wildcats receive the same transformative experience that has shaped so many lives for generations.
Taking action now guarantees that your intentions are honored exactly as you wish. The cost of providing a top-tier Catholic education will only continue to rise, making long-term gifts more critical than ever. By making your commitment today, you create an enduring impact and help secure the next 75 years of Mater Dei’s tradition of faith, leadership, and excellence.
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. Regardless of the size of a 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 Society Morning on Wednesday, April 23rd.
In Christ, Through our Blessed Mother, Deacon Dan Niemeier ‘80
President, Mater Dei High School
Leaving a Meaningful Legacy
Growing up watching his older cousins attend Mater Dei, Weston Tenbarge ‘10 couldn’t wait to be a part of something bigger. By the time he stepped into the doors his freshman year, he knew this is where be belonged. This was the place that formed his family members for three generations. Now as an adult, Weston specifically sees the value in the institution, the tradition, and the community that forms so many young adults at Mater Dei. “I love this community; it’s like a big family.”
Weston is the current Board President of the Mater Dei Friends & Alumni Association. He finds that executing his passion for Mater Dei is important in both the long and short term as he leads initiatives with the Board that help support the staff and students of the school. In addition to his sister, Devon ‘12, Weston’s mom, Dava ‘85 and grandparents Sharon ‘51 and Dave ‘51 Lappe also attended Mater Dei. Not to be outdone, Weston’s dad, Bob, recently joined the school staff as the Director of Facilities. Mater Dei is family — both literally and figuratively — for Weston.
As the youngest known member of the Ave Maria Society, Weston was asked about his reasoning for remembering Mater Dei in his plans and the value of doing it now. “I want to be a part of ensuring the legacy and survival of Mater Dei for future generations. I want kids to get the same opportunities and experiences that I had.” He continued, “I always think it’s important to think about others and give back in some way and I wanted to give back to something that meant something to me and so many of the people I care about. When I face myself with questions like this-factoring in the unknown-I thought it was important to leave a legacy beyond just leaving everything to my family. Things happen and it’s never too early to plan long term to make sure everything is planned out just how you want it to be. Doing one last thing for something I am passionate about was important to me.”
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 †
Kenneth ‘71 and Jeanne (Dewig) ‘79 Mesker
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
Barbara Ann ‘64 † and Roy Ritzert
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
Peggie (Minnette) Schnur ‘55
Larry and Janice (Goebel) ’64 Schuble
Mark ‘85 and Sarah (Macke) ‘85 Seng
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
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 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. Once you have made a planned gift or established an endowment with Mater Dei as the beneficiary, notify the Office of Advancement and you will become an official member of the Ave Maria Society.
Deacon Dan Niemeier ‘80 President (812) 421-5727 dtniemeier@evdio.org
Mallory Hertel ‘07
Director of Avancement
(812) 421-5727
mhertel@evdio.org
Weston Tenbarge ‘10
Ross and Jennifer (Knapp) ‘93 Vaughn
Cliff ’88 and Sarah (Titzer) ’88 Wagner
Gregory Walter
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
Fr. Joseph Ziliak †
Ways to Give Smarter
When you include Mater Dei High School in your will or name them as a beneficiary of your IRA or life insurance policy, you can take advantage of several tax benefits. These benefits help you maximize your gift while reducing the tax burden on your estate or heirs. Here’s how:
Tax Benefits of Leaving Mater Dei in Your Will (Bequests)
A bequest (a gift made through your will) can help reduce or eliminate estate taxes:
Estate Tax Deduction: If your estate is large enough to owe estate taxes, a charitable bequest lowers the taxable value of your estate. This means less of your estate is taxed, and more goes to the people and causes you care about.
No Income Tax on the Gift: Your heirs might owe income tax on certain inherited assets, but charities like Mater Dei don’t. By giving to a nonprofit, the school receives the full value of the gift tax-free.
Example: If you leave $10,000 to Mater Dei, your taxable estate is reduced by $10,000, which could lower or eliminate estate taxes.
Tax Benefits of Naming Mater Dei as a Beneficiary of Your IRA or 401(k)
If you leave an IRA, 401(k), or other retirement account to a family member, they must pay income tax on any withdrawals they make. However, if you leave these assets to Mater Dei, they receive the full amount tax-free.
Avoids Heirs Paying Income Tax: Heirs often have to pay ordinary income tax (up to 37%) on money they withdraw from an inherited IRA. Since MD is a nonprofit, they do not have to pay these taxes, meaning every dollar supports the school. Estate Tax Savings: If your estate is large enough to be taxed, leaving pre-tax retirement accounts to charity can reduce your estate’s taxable value, just like a bequest.
Example: If you leave a $25,000 IRA to your children, they might only receive $18,000 after taxes. But if you leave it to Mater Dei, the full $25,000 benefits the school without any tax loss.
Tax Benefits of Naming Mater Dei as a Life Insurance Beneficiary
If you name MD as a full or partial beneficiary of a life insurance policy, the payout goes to the school tax-free.
If you transfer ownership of the policy to Mater Dei during your lifetime, you may receive an immediate income tax deduction for the policy’s cash value.
By including Mater Dei High School in your will or beneficiary designations, you can: