FOUNDATION NEWS Caring for the Ministry of Grace: "Ecclesia Perpetua" March 2011 | |||||
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Carl & Alice Ronnenkamp by Shelly Lundahl | |||||
What kind of people give more than a quarter-million dollars to their church because they love it and regard it as their family? You might expect wealthy, well-known leaders in the community as major philanthropists, but the Ronnenkamps didn't fit that image.
Carl and Alice were not well known and did not appear to be wealthy. They lived simply, worked hard farming near Tangent, and believed money should be saved and invested. They led quietly, by example, giving their time and energies to Grace wherever needs arose from quilting and church dinners to building projects. When Alice passed away in 1992, their final gift of $264,571 surprised everyone. It was the largest single monetary donation ever to Grace Lutheran Church and became the basis for the Grace Foundation. Born in Arkansas in 1901, Carl, age 7, moved with his family to the Willamette Valley, settling on a farm near Halsey. Alice was born in 1905 on a farm near Lyons, Nebraska. She attended school in Lyons and Lincoln, hoping to become a nurse. Instead, she worked as a maid for several years before moving at the urging of friends to find work in Seattle. It was these friends who introduced Carl and Alice, knowing of their shared rural backgrounds. They courted by mail before marrying in 1940. They moved to Carl's family farm into a house near his parents. This was a happy time for them. They worked hard on the farm and developed friendships through the Masonic Lodge and the Eastern Star chapter. But Alice also wanted to be part of a church. They had been driving to Salem for worship, |
but saw an announcement of a new church forming in Corvallis and determined to be part of it. They found Grace Church worshiping in a small house near campus (Luther House) and were welcomed enthusiastically by the small group. They became charter members of the new church and were determined that it succeed. They were both committed, hard working and shared all their talents. They spent the rest of their lives working to build up Grace in their enthusiastic, unselfish way. Carl brought carpentry and masonry skills to the hands-on projects. When the small congregation arranged to buy an old chapel from Adair Village, Carl was heavily involved in the preparations and renovations, including selling his crops to buy cement for the foundation. Alice was famous for her hospitality, bringing home-made noodles and chicken to feed workers, and entertaining in their home. At Thanksgiving they brought a cornucopia display of fruits and vegetables from their farm for all to share. When Carl's health declined, they sold the property and moved into a small apartment near Grace. They used their new-found free time for friends at Grace, Masonic Lodge, the Senior Center, and occasional carpentry work for farm neighbors. After Carl's death in 1980, Alice continued giving time at the Elderly Nutrition Site, sewing projects at church, and as secretary of Naomi Circle of Grace for 28 years. Continued below
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the following people for donations:
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