The story so far
A simple action that outlived its first goal.
John knew what it was like to go hungry. When he saw a way to help children in his own community, he made that need part of his ministry.
John belonged to a Faith Riders chapter based in Chippewa Falls. The distance made it difficult for him to take part in all of the chapter’s fundraising, so he looked for a need he could serve closer to home in Sparta.
He kept the idea quiet at first. John asked his wife, Terri, to pick up markers and heavy tagboard while she was shopping, saying only that he was working on something. When she returned, he sat down and wrote out his message by hand. That was the first time she heard him call it the Angel Fund.
The Sparta Area School District had maintained a lunch assistance fund since 2009. In spring 2019, John began collecting near Walgreens at Wisconsin Street and Black River Street. Saturday by Saturday, neighbors stopped to give. His personal goal was $10,000.
John stood at the Walgreens corner from 9 to 11 on Saturday mornings, then hurried to the bank for a cashier’s check. Because his truck-driving work kept him away from Sunday evening through Thursday evening, he delivered each week’s check to the school on Friday morning.
On June 7, 2019, John delivered his final check to the school at 9:00 a.m. He passed away at 11:58 a.m. that same day. He had raised about $3,000 toward his goal. His family, friends, and neighbors carried the collection forward, and by August community giving had reached $10,305.
Terri and their daughters—Tricia, Ashley, and Brittany—continued the work in John’s memory, raising more than $28,000 over three years. The grandchildren now join them at the corner, making the Angel Fund a true family effort. COVID disrupted their public fundraising and forced them to step back for a time.
Today, the family says the available funds are falling while the need remains high. John’s reason for beginning is still the reason to keep going.
