Xavier Alumni Parents Influence New Scholarships

Alumni Siblings Honor Late Mother

In memory of Joan M. Streck an endowed scholarship has been established to support tuition assistance for students attending Xavier Catholic Schools. Catholic education and Xavier were very special to Joan and her late husband Don. All four of their children were Xavier graduates: Debra (Streck) Wilz ‘69, Steve ‘72, David ‘76, and Stacy ‘83. Xavier is truly blessed by the generosity and support of the family for creating the Joan M. Streck Memorial Scholarship Fund, which will help provide the gift of a faith-filled education to many deserving students in the years ahead.

Joan’s zest for life and her passion for golf also serve as true examples to the Xavier Community. Her years as a teacher of dance and an active volunteer for the Salvation Army made a difference in the lives of others as will this scholarship. Please remember the Streck family in your prayers.

Remembering Xavier's #1 Fan

Many alumni and benefactors would describe themselves as “lifelong Xavier fans,” but few can rival the level to which Arnie VandenBoomen H'16 embodied such a description. From his days as a Xavier dad to his decades of support for Xavier student-athletes, Arnie never hid his allegiance. Arnie passed away on December 11, and the Xavier community mourns his loss while celebrating his extraordinary life.

Arnie and his wife, Joanne, were married for almost 60 years. Their three sons - Michael '68, Rick '72 and Dave '75, all graduated from Xavier. In those years, Arnie was running his own business (Appleton Vault Works) while also supporting Xavier in any number of ways, from his founding of the Booster Club to finding bleachers to use for football games each week to helping with concessions. Arnie even drove a school bus for a while so that students from Little Chute and the north side of Appleton could get to Xavier. If there was work to be done, Arnie was always there to help.

Over the past 50 years, Arnie was in the stands for countless sporting events. His spot in the top corner of the bleachers in the Torchy Clark gym is reserved with a plaque and has been adorned with flowers and a candle since his death (photo top right). Arnie was generous in his support of the teams; it was common for him to show up after a game with ice cream or burgers or Mr. Reynebeau’s cookies for the student-athletes as a treat, regardless of the outcome. He became Xavier’s “#1 Fan” and he will be sorely missed by students, alumni and staff.

Arnie VandenBoomen was named an honorary alumnus of Xavier in 2016 and a scholarship fund has been established in his name.

Arnie with his sons at the 2016 Xavier High School Graduation Ceremony where Arnie was named Honorary Alumni 2016. From left to right: Rick' 72, Arnie H'16, Dave '75, and Mike '68.

The John J. Biese Jr. family (Anne ’86, Katie ’02, John ’03), in memory of their spouse and mother Agnes M. Biese H’11, have made an initial contribution of $20,000 to the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School Foundation, Inc. in order to establish an endowed fund to support tuition assistance at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Schools.

This fund shall be named the Agnes M. Biese Memorial Scholarship Fund. The primary purpose is to provide tuition assistance for students attending St. Francis Xavier High School (10-12th grade) who qualify for tuition assistance and have a record of extra-curricular participation, academic excellence, and have participated in Christmas Stars for two years. A selection process will be determined and an award winner will be determined through an internal selection process.

Xavier Catholic Schools is very grateful for this generous gift and asks that our Xavier community remember Agnes, who passed away on September 23, 2019, in their thoughts and prayers.

To honor and support these scholarships, or any scholarship within the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System Foundation, please contact Bob Biebel at bbiebel@xaviercatholicschools.org

Thank you to our supporting parishes!

We are blessed to receive 19% of our financial support from our eight Appleton parishes and 15 regional partner parishes.

Appleton Parishes and Pastors: St. Joseph Parish, Fr. James Leary St. Mary Parish, Fr. William Swichtenberg St. Pius X Parish, Fr. James Jugenheimer St. Thomas More Parish, Deacon Lincoln Wood St. Bernard Parish, Fr. Jude Egbuna St. Therese Parish, Fr. Ryan Starks St. Bernadette & Sacred Heart Parishes, Fr. Joseph Dorner Xavier High School Chaplain, Fr. Adam Bradley

Regional Partner Parishes: Holy Cross Parish, Kaukauna, Fr. Don Everts & Fr. Kyle Sladek Holy Spirit Parish, Kimberly/Darboy, Fr. Carl Schmitt Most Precious Blood Parish, New London, Fr. John Kleinschmidt

SS. Peter & Paul Parish, Hortonville, Fr. James Jugenheimer St. Clare Parish, Wrightstown/ Greenleaf/ Askeaton, Fr. Brian Wideman St. Denis Parish, Shiocton, Fr. Michael Thiel St. Edward Parish, Mackville, Fr. Walter Stumpf St. John Nepomucene Parish, Little Chute, Fr. Ron Belitz St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Kaukauna/ Hollandtown, Fr. Don Everts & Fr. Kyle Sladek St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Greenville, Fr. Michael Warden St. Mary of the Seven Dolors Parish, Stockbridge, Fr. Michael Betley St. Mary Parish, Black Creek, Fr. Don Zuleger St. Nicholas Parish, Freedom, Fr. Walter Stumpf St. Patrick Parish, Stephensville, Fr. Michael Thiel St. Paul Parish, Combined Locks, Fr. Andrew Kysely

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