Lea and Elsie Wildung were long-time St. Paul residents and members of St. John Ev. Lutheran Church in St. Paul – one of the founding congregations of St. Croix LHS.

Lea was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Paul and as an adult became an active leader at St. John and with the Elmhurst Cemetery Board. He made his living as a carpenter and is remembered by many for those skills.

Elsie came from a strong Christian family with deep ministry roots. Her grandfather was an early Lutheran missionary who began a congregation in Dakota County that today is Trinity Lone Oak. As a child, Elsie attended the Christian day school at St. John. Even though St. Croix Lutheran High School did not exist when Elsie attended high school, she always had a special place in her heart for the school.

In 1986, Elsie made a gift that began the endowment fund at St Croix Lutheran High School. Endowments are restricted investment gifts that provide a steady source of income (from interest earnings) to the school and are designated to be kept intact for perpetuity. Elsie was a pioneer in making a gift that would ensure the future of this ministry.

Later Elsie and Lea would remember St. Croix in their estate plans, providing an endowed scholarship fund to grant tuition assistance for St. Croix students.

The purpose of the Lea A. and Elsie L. Wildung Society is to honor and recognize those who have included a legacy gift in their estate plans or made an endowment gift to benefit St. Croix Lutheran High School. These dedicated individuals are a reflection of the Wildungs' early commitment to supporting the growth and development of this high school ministry. In so doing, these people recognize the school’s unique role in training young Christians.

Membership is extended to alumni, parents, and friends who notify our Mission Advancement Office of their intention to benefit St. Croix Lutheran High School in their estate plan and/or make an endowment gift. Gift arrangements which qualify include:

• Wills
• Charitable Trusts
• Gifts of Life Insurance
• Gift Annuities
• Retained Life Estates
• Retirement Plan beneficiary designations
• Endowed Funds
• Others

St. Croix Lutheran President Dr. Gene Pfeifer invites our Wildung Society members to join him at the Crusader Gala to be recognized and thanked for their support of St. Croix. The Crusader Gala will be held:

Thursday, February 2, 2012
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm (check-in 6:00 pm)

St. Croix Commons
St. Croix Lutheran High School
1200 Oakdale Avenue
West St. Paul, MN 55118

If you would like to join us, please contact Robyn Swiderski in the Mission Advancement Office by Wednesday, January 25. We would be delighted to have you join us at this exciting event.

For more information about the Wildung Society or general estate planning, please contact Greg Schuyler, Director of Mission Advancement.