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Earl & Doris Gerdeman Family Donation
Earl & Doris Gerdeman
St. John the Evangelist Parish and School is honored and humbled to announce the amazing financial gift from the Earl and Doris Gerdeman Family Trust.  The St. John Parish Foundation has been awarded a Perpetual Legacy Endowment in the amount of $574,494.41 to be used for the growth and future legacy of the St. John’s Parish.  An additional Perpetual Legacy Endowment has been given to the St. John’s Elementary School in the amount of $382,996.28 on behalf of Earl and Doris for the continued advancement of our faith based education of our future students.  There was a third contribution of $17,495.59 made to the Elementary School from Doris’s life insurance policy.  The total contribution to the St. John the Evangelist Parish and School was $974,986.28.  The incredible generosity on behalf of Earl and Doris is a gift from God and evidence to the giving and amazing people that the Gerdeman family were.
 

Earl passed away in 2015, having taught Vocational Agriculture for 35 years at Lincolnview High School.  Doris, who passed away in 2017, was a third grade teacher at Delphos St. John’s Elementary School for 28 years.  Both Earl and Doris were committed and devoted members of the Delphos St. John the Evangelist Catholic Parish. Their devotion to the education of the youth in the surrounding area, as well as their never-ending Catholic Faith speaks volumes of the type of people Earl and Doris were.  The legacy that the Gerdeman’s have left not only here at St. John’s but in the entire community is a testament to the character and love they both had for others.

The St. John Parish Foundation originated in 1977 to create long-term financial stability for the St. John’s Parish.  Now over forty years later, the Foundation continues to grow and help support the parish and school. This is a direct result of the generosity of parishioners and alumni, the success of a socially responsible investment philosophy, and a rising stock market.  In 2018 the Foundation contributed more than $400,000.00 to the St. John’s Parish and School. These Perpetual Legacy Endowments given from Earl and Doris, are just another example of great people believing in the mission and vision of our parish and school.  

We want to again give our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Earl and Doris Gerdeman family.  The legacy of these amazing individuals will forever be remembered. God Bless you all.