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The Keweenaw Area Community Foundation announces a new endowment fund for a small church in Copper Harbor. The Charles E Ryan Junior memorial foundation will provide financial grants to the Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church.
The endowment has been established in memory of Charles Ryan Junior, a calumet native, known to many by his nickname “Digger”. He was very involved within his community and the Our Lady of the Pines Church. Ryan was a student at sacred heart high school, and played a role in the completion of the Our Lady of the Pines’ renovations. Many remember him from his day job as the post master of the Ahmeek Post Office, where he would proudly display local school kids’s photos on the wall of “Ahmeek’s Best”.
After his passing, his family wanted to establish a way to continually support the Our Lady of the Pines, that was a special place to Charles Ryan Junior, and has established an endowment for the church through the Kewenaw Area Community Foundation.
Find the Full Release below:
The Charles E. Ryan Jr. Memorial Fund provides annual financial grants to Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church in Copper Harbor, Michigan. This endowment fund was established in memory of Charles E. Ryan, Jr., a lifelong resident of the Keweenaw, by his family.
Charles (or “Digger” as he was known to many) was involved with building Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church in Copper Harbor while he was a student at Sacred Heart High School under the supervision of Father Jordan Telles, O.F.M. Charles was proud to have played a role in its completion, and Our Lady of the Pines was a special place to Charles and his family over the years. Though he would not have sought recognition, his family wanted to honor his contribution and memory by establishing an endowment in his name to provide perpetual support to the church.
A Calumet native, Charles was a lover of the Keweenaw who served his community in many ways throughout his life. Most remember him as the Postmaster of the Ahmeek Post Office, where cookies and coffee were never in short supply and where he proudly displayed the local school kids’ pictures on the wall of “Ahmeek’s Best.”
Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church is the northernmost Catholic Church in Michigan. The Finnish log cabin construction was started in 1951 and completed in 1953. Many local individuals and organizations supported the building process with their time and talent. Local timber, rock, and copper were utilized to create this special place. To learn more about the history of the church, please visit the Keweenaw Catholic Community website at www.keweenawcc.org.
About Keweenaw Area Community Foundation: Keweenaw Area Community Foundation is a place-based non-profit organization that supports our community with grants and scholarships along with other services. For more information on the Keweenaw Area Community Foundation and how to give, visit www.keweenawgives.org.
