Submitted by Rich Patterson

Peoples Church recently received an annual distribution from the Jay G. Sigmund Endowed Fund held by the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. Although modest in size it gave a boost to the budget and brought back memories of this generous family.

Jay Sigmund was an insurance executive best known for his poetry that centered on the land he loved near Waubeek. His son Jim Sigmund wed Virginia and they enjoyed a long life together and had a son named Jay G. Sigmund II together. Virginia Sigmund was a longtime member of Peoples Church and served on the board of Directors and on many committees. Following Jim’s death she married Kenneth Myers and began using the name Virginia Sigmund Myers. Her son, Jay G. Sigmund II, was born in 1937 and as a child developed a love of fishing. He often visited Indian Creek where the Nature Center is now located to catch bass and catfish. He went on to a successful career in the US Navy. Following retirement he became an offshore fly fishing guide in Florida. Jay took clients out in the ocean to pursue big fish. He may have grown up in the Peoples RE program but I could not confirm this. He died of cancer on March 31, 1999.

In 2004 Virginia contacted me and told me she’d like to establish an endowed fund that would honor her family and create an annual cash distribution to Peoples and the Nature Center. I helped her set this up, and it was approved by the Foundation board on November 22, 2004. Virginia died on October 16, 2006.

Although the Sigmunds connected with Peoples and the Nature Center have all died, Virginia created a family legacy that lives on through annual distributions to the two organizations. Although she’s been dead for 11 years she continues to give generously and the distributions will continue forever.

Endowed funds create legacies for families that keep their names and memories alive long after they’ve departed. Both the Church and the Nature Center are happy to work with anyone interested in creating a legacy endowed fund. It does not take a large amount of money to create a legacy endowment to honor a family and help the Church. Please give me a call if you have interest.