We give thanks for the life and legacy of Mary Jane Anderson, a charter member of Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church of Minocqua. Mary passed away in April 2024 after a life filled with faith, family, teaching, and adventure.
Mary was a passionate traveler—having visited 48 of the 50 United States and even driven the Alcan Highway to Alaska at age 82. Her love of exploring the world now lives on through one final act of generosity: a bequest of approximately $300,000 to Calvary Lutheran Church to help those in need both near and far.
In her honor, the church has established the Calvary Mission Endowment Fund. This permanent fund will be invested in the ELCA Mission Investment Fund, so will be working in ministry throughout the church while earning interest for our Fund, which we will then use to support mission work both locally and globally. The principal will remain intact, while annual earnings will help Calvary reach out to the world in service, love, and faith—just as Mary did in life.
The fund will be guided by an Endowment Committee. Bylaws and continuing resolutions implementing this Fund work were developed by the Mission Endowment Planning Committee chaired by Penny Ravey and including Pastor Max, Steve Ahlborn, Nancy Heykes, Jill Lemke and Mary Leppi, with advisory assistance from Treasurer John Breiten. These provisions are being recommended to Council in July 2025 and after their review and approval will hopefully be presented to the congregation for adoption at the congregation’s annual meeting in September.
The amount of Mary’s generous bequest will enable the Fund to have immediate impact in its first year of operation, with up to $12,000 available for distribution to mission work by 12/31/26. Because this is a permanent fund, members will also be invited to contribute to grow the fund’s reach and impact.
Through this gift, Mary’s spirit of adventure and her heart for ministry will continue to bless lives for generations to come.
“God’s work. Our hands.”
— Calvary Lutheran Church, Minocqua