This dynamic couple is forward thinking and plans to grow their fund while also making a positive impact through how they work, volunteer, and live their lives.

Both are graduates of Crawford County High School. Sam and Teela were blessed with a beautiful son, Everett, in 2020.

A former Crawford County Lilly Endowment Community Scholar, Dr. Teela D. Crecelius, a very bright and accomplished young lady, works as a physician at Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis and as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine through Indiana University School of Medicine.

Teela commented, “Starting a community fund has been a goal of ours for several years. The people of Crawford County have supported us through each chapter of our lives, and we have always wanted to give back to our home community and the organizations we value. We have already planned a couple of small gatherings to share our ideas with friends and family and are excited for them to get involved as well.”

Samuel A. Crecelius, the ever consummate professional and man of many talents, is a partner and senior consultant for Diehl Consulting Group in Indianapolis and is a past chairman of the Board of Directors at the Community Foundation of Crawford County. As a leader who led the CFCC through a challenging time of transition and someone who assists other organizations in expanding their impact, he knows first-hand the benefits that a fund like this can have on the community. “We are very excited about the possibilities of giving back to Crawford County through our donor-advised fund. It allows us to adapt to changing needs and provide ongoing support to organizations working on the front lines.” In addition to his professional pursuits, Sam plays guitar and is a luthier with Center Stage Vintage Guitar.

Teela’s parents are Chris and Rita Wyman, and Sam’s parents are Dan & Angela Crecelius, all of Crawford County. Both sets of parents are as proud as they could be of this beautiful couple.

The fund they started is the Samuel A. and Dr. Teela D. Crecelius Community Fund.

Leland J. Harbeson & Christine A. (Knies) Harbeson
Crawford County has always played a part in the lives of Leland and Christine.

They are the proud parents of three grown children and five grandchildren who are growing up so fast!
They started the Earl E. Harbeson & Ronald J. Knies Grantmaking Fund as a way to honor their fathers; impact on their lives. They make annual gifts to the fund on Father's Day and Christmas but have included the fund as a part of Christine's estate plan. This fund is unrestricted, which means the CFCC grant committee and Board of Directors decides which nonprofits are eligible to receive funds based on a competitive, open grant cycle.

"As grandparents, we recognize the very special role that parents play in the role of their children. While parents are busy working, maintaining homes, and raising children, we know the stolen moments as a family are incredibly valuable. Even if everyone is gobbling down take-out between school, work, and after-school activities, small gestures of appreciation and having one's own cheering section build esteem and bonds that last forever.

For Leland, he remembers that his Dad, Earl, never missed one of his games. He would work double or split shifts to work around the sport's schedule. He also remembers his Mom and Dad caring for five cousins while they all grew up in a small home. "Somehow, Dad always made sure there was enough for everyone," said Leland. "And everyone who knew him knew he liked to help make apple butter. Apple butter is one of my favorite things, probably because of the memories it brings up."

For Christine, she knows how hard her Dad worked. Not only did he work hard, he was also a talented craftsman. She now has one of the desks he made as a gift to his brother and his new wife on their wedding day. That new wife is her godmother, so the impact of family is strong. Additionally, his parents taught her the value of farm life and extended family. "My Dad was one of nine children. I think my last count on first cousins is forty-two, not including spouses. We used to get together every Christmas and Easter and eventually had to rent out places to gather. I sure do miss the family members who have passed on, especially my Dad!"

And so, they honor their fathers and the legacy they left through their children's lives. They encourage you to find ways to celebrate the people in your life. You can start small and add to the fund over time or set up a fund to be realized through your estate plan. These funds will serve as an eternal tribute and will distribute grants to Crawford County year after year after year…

The Earl E. Harbeson & Ronald J. Knies Grantmaking Fund made its first grant in 2021.

Dr. Henry W. Hoge, DDS, is a periodontist in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

The McIntosh Family Teaching Scholarship is the focus of his legacy gift.

His words, from his perspective, “As I understand the McIntosh history, my grandfather Sherman and grandmother Ruby sold their farm located about 5 miles North of Marengo in about 1900. They bought a house in the “old town” section of Marengo and opened a general store across the street.

My Grandmother Ruby has a teaching certificate from Ball State. She taught for several years but retired upon the birth of a daughter, Joy, and my Mother, Doris, born in 1919. Many of their descendants are educators today.

I was born in 1943 in New Albany, Indiana, as were my sister Jane and brother John. In 1954 my youngest sister was born. During WWII, we lived in Marengo while my Dad was in the Air Force in Texas and Louisiana.
My Grandparents and Mother were truly my “parents” during this challenging time, both during the war and later when my Father commuted to Bloomington to complete his studies at I.U. Looking back, those years in Marengo were crucial in learning practical skills and forming lifelong values. We also have wonderful memories of playing in the creek, “hanging out” at my grandparent’s store, and enjoying grandmother’s persimmon pudding.

After my Father received his degree, we moved to Wisconsin and subsequently to Bloomington. Later, our family lived in Cuba and Colombia, South America. These international experiences were exciting and informative. This period and the teenage years that followed were a busy time. I’m afraid we didn’t appreciate our grandparents adequately in this latter part of our youth, nor did we show them the gratitude they deserved.

We searched for a way we could reward the efforts and sacrifices our grandparents had made. We felt that Community Foundation of Crawford County would offer a way to recognize their efforts and at the same time benefit a student in need through the McIntosh Family Teaching Scholarship.”

Dr. Milton W. Roggenkamp and Ruth Imogene (Wenning) Roggenkamp 

Dr. Milton W. Roggenkamp and his late wife, Ruth Imogene (Wenning), had been philanthropists for a long time, making it a part of their plan as a couple to give. This continued until Ruth's passing in 2017, and Dr. Roggenkamp continued their goals. 

In correspondence with Dr. Roggenkamp, he said, "I have a strong motivation to bring continuing educational awareness to CC [Crawford County] students as there was a dearth of such encouragement during the depression in my school experience 1935-42. Even my parents did not broach the subject of going to college, as they could not provide funds for it. The only person in Milltown who inquired about my future plans was Mr. Harry Lemmon, [the] Superintendent of the rock quarry in Milltown. He was a customer on my paper route. I told him there was no chance to go to college for me unless I could [gain] an appointment to one of the U.S. Military Academies, and he understood. That was the end of that. Little did I know that I would be in the military in a couple of years, eventually becoming eligible for the G.I. Bill [through his service in the Navy as an Aviation radioman]!" 

Inspired by his Agriculture teacher, Arthur Windell, at Milltown High School, he set his mind to majoring in Chemistry and taking Pre-Med courses required for admission to Medical School. He received his Bachelor's degree in Chemistry in 1948 and his MD in 1952. 

Prior to the days of scholarships and financial aid, students had very little opportunity to attend college. Some had parents who could afford to send them, but that left a lot of intelligence, and it was often only by very hard work and sheer determination that many were able to receive a degree. Even with the GI Bill, Dr. Roggenkamp had to drive an old vehicle back and forth from Milltown to U of L each day of classes. It wasn't easy for their new family, and Ruth made the daily sacrifices of being wife and mother so he could go. They acted as a unit right up until the time she passed away. They were devoted to each other for more than 70 years! 

Today, most people take opportunities that were dreams to others in America for granted and remain dreams for much of the world. Because of generous donors like the Roggenkamps, students in Crawford County have opportunities. 

The Roggenkamps have established three scholarship funds: the 1) Dr. Milton W. Roggenkamp & Mrs. Ruth I. Roggenkamp Scholarship and the 2) Norman A. Roggenkamp Memorial Scholarship, in honor of Dr. Roggenkamp's brother Norman, a pilot who did not return from the war. Both of these scholarships are renewable, which significantly eases the financial burden on the receiving student. The 3) Roggenkamp Gold Star Mother/Purple Heart Recipient Fund aims to award a scholarship to the Progeny of Gold Star Mother or Purple Heart Recipient. 

They also established two grantmaking funds. One of Dr. Roggenkamp's most recent funds is the Roggenkamp Family Endowment for S.T.E.M. Awareness. This fund will assist Crawford County with exposure to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math fields through grants to the nonprofit sector. 

The other is the Milton and Ruth Roggenkamp Family Unrestricted Fund was established. This fund took advantage of a Lilly Endowment Inc. matching challenge where the initial donation by Dr. Roggenkamp received a $2 match for each $1 donated. This fund will provide grants each year through the competitive grant cycle. 

In addition to these gifts made in their lifetime, they have included the C.F.C.C. in their estate plan. Their legacy will live on forever, and future generations of Crawford County residents will benefit from their generosity!