What happens when a Minnesota farm boy and the daughter of a Minnesota pastor meet in the Registrar's Office at Concordia University, St. Paul? In the case of Wayne and Lois Lehrer, it's 52 years of marriage and counting.

Wayne studied ministry at CSP, while Lois was in the first cohort of teachers to obtain a four-year degree. CSP has always been meaningful for Lois; her parents and four siblings also graduated from the university.

"We have a great love for the school," Wayne says. "The leadership is excellent, and programs and majors keep growing."

Over the decades, the Lehrers have given regularly to CSP. More recently, they decided to leave an estate gift to the university.

"We had an annuity set aside that we called the college fund," Wayne explains. But thanks to a steady paycheck from the military, for which Wayne worked as a chaplain, the Lehrers didn't need those funds to send their three children to college.

Now, CSP will be one of the beneficiaries of the annuity. "It's a tax benefit for our estate, so our children won't have to pay taxes on it," Wayne notes.

Beyond the financial benefits, the Lehrers are excited to be able to continue their support of Concordia University, St. Paul.

"We've always loved the school," Lois says. "There are a lot of good memories there."

Support What Matters Most to You

An estate gift is a simple way to extend your connection to Concordia University, St. Paul. Contact Mark Hill at 651-641-8223 or hill@csp.edu to learn more about your giving options.