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Catholic Schools Receive Donation of
Left to right: Representative of
Margaret Retz Family, Rev. Chris Haake-Chaplain,
Mr. Ronald Spandet-Principal,
Mrs. Barbara Cross-Business Manager, Rev. Gerald Meyer-Commission President,
Mr. Jack Thompson-Commission Member, Mr. Ron Wackerlin-Commission Member
As
reported in The Times, Ottawa, IL,
Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008:
The Rev.
David Kipfer wondered about the potential of this
community if everyone was as generous as Margaret McCourt
Retz.
On Wednesday, Retz's family, St.
Columba Elementary School and
Marquette High School Principal Ron Spandet
told about a dozen of Retz's cousins from the
"I was very taken by her. She was so up front," Spandet said about meeting Retz.
"She was very firm in her convictions about Catholic education."
Retz died Nov. 13 at age 90. She moved
to the area in 1970. She wanted the land to be donated in honor of her husband,
Arthur, who died in 1992.
"She was a great person," said Retz's cousin, Robert Casey, of McHenry. "Ever since I
was little, she would attend every graduation. She always encouraged
education."
The Retzes had several
opportunities over the years to sell the farm located immediately north of
Interstate 80 and east of Route 71. But both agreed the schools should benefit
from the farm land.
"She's helping us continue the mission of the
church," Kifper said. "I hope her gift will
remind us what life is about."
Casey said it was Retz's plan
that the proceeds be used for enhancing math, science and
religious education and a portion be used for tuition assistance enabling
students with demonstrated need to attend St. Columba
and those graduates of St. Columba to attend
In her most recent research, she determined both schools
would receive a tract of farm land. The land was appraised at $8,300 per acre
as agricultural land -- a total of $913,000. Casey said Retz
thought the schools might choose a new site for their educational operations,
lease the farm for agricultural purposes generating annual income or have the
tracts rezoned to commercial-industrial and sell the tracts for three to five
times the current appraised agricultural value -- which could yield somewhere
between $2.7 million and $4.6 million.
Retz felt it was best for the school
administrators to have the final decision.
"She didn't want to make that decision," Casey
said. "She wanted to leave that to the best minds."
Spandet said no plans have been made for
the land. Phil Trumbo and Bob Trumbo
currently operate the land on a cash-rent basis. Spandet
said the schools will have to discuss the farm's future with them. The Trumbos' lease runs through October.
Several were present for the acceptance of the deed,
including St. Columba Principal Mike Nadeau and Rev.
Jerry Meyer, chairman of the
Copyright 2006 Marquette High School. All rights reserved.