Gift of Thanksgiving
Grateful Alumnus Says QU Prepared Him Well for Life
When Joe Claes was a senior in high school, he did not know what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. With his parent’s encouragement, Joe toured the Quincy College campus, met some of the students, and the decision was made that Quincy was where he belonged.
Joe’s best memories of his years at the college include sports and dorm life. “My senior year I lived at Stillwell Hall and made friends with whom I have remained close to this day,” Joe says.
He also remained close with Fr. Melvin Grunloh long after graduation. Yearly family trips to Quincy with another QU family always included a special Saturday Mass with Fr. Melvin, dinner and a QU basketball game.
Following graduation in 1965, Joe joined the U.S. Navy and graduated from officer candidate school. His next three years were spent overseas in Guam and Vietnam.
“My college experience helped prepare me for the challenges that military life can bring,” Joe says. “Many times I reflected back on my college days and how fortunate I was to have attended a Franciscan college.”
Following his military obligation, Joe pursued a 40-year career in the inland river barge industry, retiring as president from his last employer.
After educating their five children (two are QU graduates), Joe and his wife, Judy, decided they needed to form an estate plan.
“During the meeting with our lawyer, we both decided that a portion of our estate would go to those Catholic institutions that had special meaning to us,” Joe says. “Quincy has been a part of my life and the Franciscan spirit part of my being.”
Judy also feels a close connection with Quincy University after receiving a warm welcome on campus many times over the years. “The choice to name Quincy University in our will was easy,” the couple says.
Learn More
Including a bequest to QU in your will is easier than you think—only a couple of sentences are required. Contact Julie Bell at (217) 228-5229 for more information.
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.