Oliver's Light Foundation establishes fund to support animal rescue mission

The Oliver’s Light Foundation has established an endowment fund with the Kossuth County Community Foundation to ensure its mission of assisting animal rescue groups continues for generations to come. This fund will provide a secure way for donors to support the organization’s efforts to bring shelter, care, and hope to animals in need.

The Oliver’s Light Foundation was created by founder Deb Wolfe and inspired by the love and light of her beloved dog, Oliver. Deb’s journey began with a small puppy gifted to her during her first Christmas away from home. That puppy, TC, became her steadfast companion for 16 years, sparking her lifelong dedication to helping animals. When Oliver entered her life, it solidified her passion for rescuing and rehabilitating animals, leading to the creation of Oliver’s Light Foundation.

“As I look toward the future, Oliver and I decided to create something that would continue helping animals long after we’re gone,” said Deb. “This is Oliver’s Light...because where there’s Light, there will always be hope.”

The Oliver’s Light Foundation is dedicated to:

The newly established fund will ensure the foundation’s financial stability while offering donors the benefit of a 25% additional state tax credit through the Endow Iowa Tax Credit program.

Financial gifts of cash/check and stock are accepted through the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, 3117 Greenhill Circle, Cedar Falls, IA, 50613. Checks to the fund should be made payable to the Oliver’s Light Foundation Fund. Gifts can also be made on the Community Foundation’s secure website at fund.cfneia.org/oliverslight. Donors to the fund can take advantage of normal federal deductions for charitable gifts.

“Oliver’s Light is about more than just helping animals,” added Deb. “It’s about creating a legacy of compassion and hope that will shine bright for years to come.”

Information about the Kossuth County Community Foundation can be found at https://www.cfneia.org/affiliates/kossuth-county

A Legacy of Service and Kindness

The Lloyd Louis Bergfeld Scholarship Fund, established with the Buchanan County Community Foundation, is a heartfelt tribute to a man whose life was marked by dedication, humility, and service. Created by Ellen Gaffney, Lloyd’s long-time best friend, this scholarship reflects the values and generosity that defined Lloyd’s life.

Lloyd Louis Bergfeld was born on November 25, 1928, in Petersburg, Iowa, the third of 11 children in a hardworking family. After graduating from Lamont High School in 1946, Lloyd embarked on a life of service and commitment. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, earning two Purple Hearts for injuries sustained on the front lines. Lloyd’s bravery and dedication to his country remained a source of pride throughout his life, and he was an active member of the Loren Foster American Legion Post 346.

Before and after his military service, Lloyd built a career that spanned decades in road construction and machinery operation. He began working for Frank Machacek in the John Deere Implement business and later transitioned to road construction. Lloyd became known as one of the best “blade-men around.” He took pride in his work, with Ellen recalling, “He could set grade without using many of the tools provided today,” a testament to his meticulous craftsmanship and unparalleled skill. Lloyd retired in 1993, leaving a lasting legacy in his field.

While Lloyd was a man of few words, his wisdom and kindness spoke volumes. His favorite saying, “You learn a lot by listening,” exemplifies the quiet strength and thoughtful nature that endeared him to many. Lloyd’s generosity was subtle but impactful, and his legacy—built through hard work and careful saving—became a means to help others achieve their dreams.

Ellen, who shared a special bond with Lloyd for decades, wanted to honor his life and the values they both cherished. “I’ve always felt that we’re here to serve others,” Ellen says. “This scholarship is a tool to honor him and to help people in the field he chose.”

The Lloyd Louis Bergfeld Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to students enrolled in the diesel technology or automotive technology programs at Hawkeye Community College, with a preference for graduates of the Starmont School District. Ellen’s hope is that this scholarship will break down financial barriers and enable students to focus on their education, just as Lloyd’s life demonstrated the importance of perseverance and skill.

Ellen’s decision to establish the scholarship was rooted in her belief in giving back and creating opportunities for others. “Lloyd’s legacy is one of kindness and service,” she says. “I want people to remember him for that.”

Through the Lloyd Louis Bergfeld Scholarship Fund, Lloyd’s story will continue to inspire new generations of students. His legacy of hard work, quiet generosity, and commitment to serving others will live on, making a meaningful difference in the lives of those who follow in his footsteps.

The Gift is in the Giving

Nick and Lea Andersen started kindergarten together in Goldfield, Iowa, and after over 60 years of marriage, they are still going strong. “I think forever is a good thing,” said Nick about their lifelong love.

Now, the couple is carrying out another forever commitment, this one to their community through the establishment of the Nicklos and Leandra Andersen Family Fund. 

Like many Iowans, the couple has spent their life working in the agriculture industry, mostly across Eastern Iowa. Nick and Lea now call Clear Lake home, and when they sold part of their business, they created the donor advised fund with the Cerro Gordo County Community Foundation, an affiliate of CFNEIA. 

“When we sold our business, there were tax consequences, and by investing in the Community Foundation, we were able to lower our tax expense and increase our charitable giving. It was a beautiful thing to be able to do,” Nick shared.

The Andersens also chose the Community Foundation to help make their giving easier. “When we lived in Cedar Falls, we were aware of the Foundation and were always impressed, but we were young in our careers,” said Nick. “Sometimes, it’s difficult to figure out what to do and how to do it. By putting our money in the Foundation, they manage all those funds, and when it comes to distributing gifts, they make it easy. It’s also nice because the Community Foundation knows where the needs are so they can help direct us when we have questions.”

As lifelong Iowans, Nick and Lea want to make sure they give back to the state that supported them. “We made our money in Iowa, and we want to make sure it comes back to Iowa,” expressed Nick. “If we can give back to the community, not only during our lifetime but as a legacy, that gives us a lot of satisfaction.”   

The couple doesn’t think of legacy in terms of personal accolades but what it means for their community. Nick and Lea decided to extend their generosity through an estate gift as members of CFNEIA’s Legacy Society. 

“I think it’s exciting we could be charitable in our life, and after we’ve passed. That money is always going to stay in the Foundation and always grow,” said Nick. “Our family can continue to direct to charities in the community, or, if our family prefers, the Community Foundation will continue to enhance the community.”

A legacy grown in community

Bob and Paige Wharram are lifelong Iowans. They were raised and lived a majority of their lives in Buchanan County. But as they looked to move off the family’s Century Farm, the couple decided on Waverly as their new home, drawn to the community by its vibrant opportunities while retaining a small-town feel. Both became immediately involved in the community through participation on local boards, playing in the municipal band, and other service-oriented activities.

Shortly after their move, their son, who lived with special needs, passed away, reinforcing their appreciation for the kindness of the community. During this time, Bob and Paige began conversations about their estate and connected with the Bremer County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, to plan their legacy.

The couple had already decided to take a philanthropic approach to their planning that would allocate their resources toward charitable endeavors rather than individual inheritances. They are particularly passionate about supporting causes that benefit everyone in the community, such as conservation efforts, libraries, recreation trails, and cultural institutions.

Last year, they also established a donor-advised fund through the Bremer County Community Foundation. “There are tax advantages to it, but beyond that, there’s a chance to start directing funds to the things that are important to us now – the environment, literacy, and the fine arts,” said Bob.

Through their estate planning and donor-advised fund, the Wharrams aim to leave a lasting impact on the community they have grown to love, as well as where they were raised. “We’re childless. It’s a way to extend the legacy,” said Bob. Paige added, “And to honor them in different ways.” Bob replied, “Yes, absolutely, it’s a way to honor our sons.”

Young Couple Gives Back Through Forever Scholarship

Zach and Janelle Fischels understand the value of education and have experienced first-hand how the generosity of others through scholarships can significantly impact students’ access to these opportunities. The young couple grew up in Iowa, Zach in Independence and Janelle in Marion, meeting on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa.

After graduating from UNI, Zach became a Certified Financial Planner with Northwestern Mutual, where he learned about the charitable options offered by the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. The couple created the Zach and Janelle Fischels Scholarship Fund to give back to students seeking higher education, and to also achieve their own charitable goals.

“Scholarships helped me significantly to get started in my professional life, and I want others to have the opportunity for the same. I started this fund to have a bigger geographic impact, and to also go the endowed route so I can fund my scholarship up front and it can continue to pay out in perpetuity,” said Zach.

The Zach and Janelle Fischels Scholarship Fund awarded its first scholarship this year after its establishment in May of 2022 with CFNEIA. The needs-based scholarship is for graduating seniors from high schools located in Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Grundy and Tama counties. Recipients must plan to attend the University of Northern Iowa to pursue a degree in the College of Business with a preference for those focusing on Finance.

Zach and Janelle plan to continue their charitable journey through ongoing support to their current fund. They also aspire to establish another fund to support students following the same career path as Janelle, a graduate of Allen College and a nurse at Allen Hospital in Waterloo.

Scholarship Recipient: Emily Erdelt

Emily is the first recipient of the Zach and Janelle Fischels Scholarship and the recipient of the Denise A Smock Memorial Scholarship, scholarships of CFNEIA and the Buchanan County Community Foundation, respectively. Emily is a 2023 graduate of Independence High School in Independence and will be attending the University of Northern Iowa.

“These scholarships have impacted my transition to college by making me feel more comfortable about my decision to continue my education. During high school, I was involved in a number of extracurriculars which allowed me to grow my leadership skills and make connections. Scholarships allow me to feel like I can go college to reach my occupational goals and still be able to manage my tuition.”

2023 Another Record Year for CFNEIA Scholarships

A majority of our 2023 scholarships have been awarded and we are excited to report that this year will be another record year for scholarships awarded through CFNEIA! CFNEIA will eclipse last year’s total of $635,000! Thanks to the generosity of donors throughout our history who have placed a priority on supporting students on their educational journey.

CFNEIA is the largest independent scholarship provider in northeast Iowa outside of colleges and universities. The vision of our generous donors makes this possible and creates a positive impact on the lives of students today and will for generations to come.

A Generational Gift for a Rural Iowa Community

It was the late 1980s when Pat Boyle was welcomed to Lime Springs. He remembers how the friendly people of this community just south of the Iowa-Minnesota border greeted him and brought him into their community. In this same spirit, Pat and local couple Jan and Randy Cray started the Lime Springs Endowment Fund, a fund of the Howard County Community Foundation.

The idea started as the community grappled with the uncertainty of how COVID-19 would impact its future. The neighbors decided they didn’t want their community to collapse if something happened to the local businesses that support a thriving lifestyle for its citizens.

“We’ve got some smaller communities in the area that are no longer there. So we were asking, ‘Is that what we want the future of Lime Springs to be?’ And we decided, no,” said Pat. “Lime Springs has been good to us over the years, and we need to try and do something to make sure it sustains itself in the future.”

Pat and the Crays made the initial gifts to start the fund, but the community has ensured it will be an essential part of future betterment efforts. In just one year, over $90,000 was raised, and the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa granted $10,000 to put them over the $100,000 mark. The fund will generate dollars to support community enrichment projects and will be advised by the newly established Lime Springs Betterment Foundation, a local nonprofit organization.

The fund also gives the community essential opportunities to engage people who love where they live, both young and old. Younger residents can learn from those who know what it takes to keep a community strong and engage first-hand in building a thriving community. While older generations now have a trusted resource that can be part of their plan to leave a legacy for the community that gave them so much.

“If you don’t have something set up that people can contribute to, that money will leave our community and go out of state,” said Pat. “We need to capture as much of those dollars as possible to sustain the future of our community.”

Want to learn how you can make a positive impact on the community you love? Contact our development team at 319-287-9106 or info@cfneia.org.

"It's important to invest in your own community because the community is giving back to you. It's a place to raise your family, have a safe place to live, and have some amenities. It's important to keep those things going for future generations."

- Pat Boyle, Co-Founder of the Lime Springs Endowment Fund

Entertainer, Teacher, Musician, Friend Leaves Legacy of Care for Communities

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“It started out really small and then people kept joining and he just loved it. He loved being around people. He loved to entertain. He was the ultimate host, even at the ‘Table of Knowledge,” said Holly Kanengieter, Foundation Coordinator for Winneshiek Medical Center (WMC), as she reflected on her late friend Guy Johnson.

The “Table of Knowledge” came to be when Guy and his longtime friend Marlin were both receiving services at WMC and would visit the cafeteria daily for lunch. Staff and others would join them and take part in all sorts of engaging conversations, which is how the table got its name. “He was such a full personality, one that you were just drawn to,” Holly recalls of Guy. “He was so good at bringing groups and people together and getting to know you.”

These traits translated over to Guy’s professional life, too. He was a brilliant pianist who traveled across the country to perform, compete, and accompany. Guy was introduced to music as a child. Growing up, he had some health conditions which limited him, so his parents enrolled him in piano lessons. “At a young age music became his life, and he worked hard at it because it was something he could do,” said Holly.

Guy was also a beloved instructor and mentor and served as the Head of the Piano Departments at Drury University in Springfield, MO; Luther College in Decorah, IA; and Friends University in Wichita, KS.

“Music to him was always making sure people did their best,” Holly said. “He didn’t sugarcoat things. He let you know if he wanted you to grow, and he wanted you to be what he knew you could be, so he was the ultimate teacher as well.”

While a focus on health was ever present, Guy developed a deeper appreciation for health care later in life and an affinity for those who provide it. “He believed strongly in local health care and believed in the work and care that happens at WMC,” said Holly. So much so that Guy shared a personal goal to give the Winneshiek Medical Center Foundation $1 million.

After Guy’s passing in 2019, the WMC Foundation received an estate gift from Guy that they used to establish the Guy Johnson Memorial Endowment Fund with the Winneshiek County Community Foundation in 2021. “Guy trusted us to do what was best with his gift,” Holly said. “To fulfill his wishes, we are working to meet the $1 million goal and his legacy will continue through this fund to support healthier communities.”

Once the goal is reached, gifts to the fund will be utilized to support areas of greatest need within WMC with priority consideration given to diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and health-related education and training.

“The fund truly creates a gift that we will always have for WMC and Guy’s memory will always be with us,” Holly said. “I just wish everyone could have met him. I miss him. He was a good friend.”

Petsche Leaves a Legacy of Generosity in Black Hawk County

John (Jack) Petsche had a plan to make his community a better place. When Jack passed away on May 11, 2020, he had already ensured his generosity would live on through a $1.6 million dollar gift to the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa.

“Jack was always quick to share a story, especially about his marriage to Fran. His love extended to his community, which is evident through his incredible generosity,” said Kaye Englin, CFNEIA president and CEO. “The Community Foundation is honored to carry out his legacy, which allows us to have an even greater impact in Black Hawk County.”

The gift, directed to the John and Frances Petsche Fund created in 2010, will support CFNEIA’s Black Hawk County discretionary grant process. This gift will generate approximately $65,000 every year for grantmaking to nonprofits serving Black Hawk County.

Jack and Fran lived in Waterloo, where Jack worked at Rath Smoke House for 33 years, and Fran retired after 40 years with Illinois Central Gulf Railroads. The couple enjoyed fishing, gardening, canning, and spending time at their cabin on the Cedar River. Fran passed away in 2009.

During his lifetime, Jack donated over $100,000 to the John and Frances Petsche Fund, enabling him to see and enjoy the impact of his generosity. As an endowed fund with CFNEIA, it will give back to the community in perpetuity.

“We are incredibly grateful to have known Jack and for his passion for giving back to the community he loved. His generous spirit will have a great impact on our community forever,” said Kaye.

Learn how you can leave a legacy for your community at cfneia.org/legacy.

Passion for “Healing Hearts” Lives On

Jenni Wangsness was an excellent teacher, advocate for children, and had a strong passion for the mental and emotional health of preschoolers. She made it clear that a healthy emotional connection, filled with love, that is made early in childhood, leads to a life with purpose and meaning. Jenni’s life was cut short on November 29, 2021, by colon cancer at the age of 42.

Jenni’s husband, Erik Wangsness, established the Jenni Wangsness Healing Hearts Fund with the Winneshiek County Community Foundation. The fund will help young children develop emotionally healthy lives by providing financial assistance to access counseling for traumas of any kind, and by providing the resources they need to grow in all areas of their young lives.

“I established this fund not only to honor Jenni but to create a legacy founded on her heart of service,” said Erik. “Jenni lived her life with her faith in action. She had unending love for God and for children and my hope is this fund will continue to support her passion, forever.”

Jenni was born in Decorah, IA, and while she lived in multiple states throughout her life, she moved back to the Decorah area in 2012 when she and Erik married.

From a young age, Jenni told everyone she wanted to be a kindergarten teacher and successfully followed this route as she graduated from the University of North Texas (UNT) in 2002 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Elementary Education) with a focus on early childhood development. Jenni ended her time as education coordinator of Semcac Community Action Agency’s Head Start Program, based out of Rushford, MN.

Jenni actively participated and was a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church. She assisted several children and youth programs within the church and served in many distinct positions such as camp director for children’s programs and president of the national Women’s Society Board of Directors for six years.

Many of Jenni’s years were centered on children and youth ministries, and fighting for others so that they would see themselves as God sees them. Anyone who knew Jenni would say she was a shining beacon for God and she always worried more about others than herself. Her smile could light up any room and her kindness will never be forgotten.

Learn more about Jenni and the Jenni Wangsness Healing Hearts Fund at fund.cfneia.org/healinghearts.

Lives of Service Lead to a Forever Gift for the Community They Love

If you visit Charles City and ask someone about Dean and Marcie Andrews, chances are they’ll have a story or are friends, and they’ll definitely know the couple who have spent over 40 years working to make the community a better place.

Dean and Marcie have been by each others’ side since high school in Council Bluffs, then to the University of Iowa, and then to Charles City in 1977, where Dean opened his dental practice. Marcie put her medical technology degree to use at various positions until her retirement in 2010.

The couple raised two daughters, Lesley and Kelly, in Charles City and have continuously strengthened the community they love through many volunteer roles and active participation in community groups. Dean has also provided community leadership, currently serving as the mayor of Charles City after 18 years as a city councilperson.

Not one to sit still for long, in 2011, Marcie took a position as the development associate with the Floyd County Community Foundation, an affiliate foundation of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, and today continues to serve as the administrative assistant. During her time with the FCCF, Marcie has been inspired by the gifts of others.

“I set up a number of endowment funds for other individuals, families, and organizations. It was a heartwarming career. I was able to see so much good being done,” Marcie said.

After seeing firsthand the impact others were having by conveying their generosity through the Foundation, the Andrews family decided setting up a permanent endowment fund was the right way for them to say thank you to their community. It is a decision the entire family is excited to be actively involved in, especially making grants that benefit their home.

“Both girls were very excited when we gave them the news that we had started an endowment fund,” said Marcie. “They love to return to Charles City for the friendly atmosphere, many activities that are always occurring, and the ease in getting anywhere in town.”

Since the establishment of the Dean and Marcie Andrews Family Endowment Fund, the family has made grants to nonprofits keeping Charles City and Floyd County vibrant and growing through the arts, health, and general community betterment. The family’s fund is another piece of a legacy of good that will impact Charles City for generations to come.