MajorDonorsRLCC

Luxembourg American Cultural Society, Inc.
PO Box 157
775 Main Street
Belgium WI 53004-0157
U.S.A.
Tele: 262-476-5086
Fax: 262-476-5087

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Roots and Leaves Capital Campaign - Major Gifts

The Luxembourg American Cultural Society proudly announces its Roots and Leaves Capital Campaign. The goal of the Roots and Leaves Capital Campaign is to raise the necessary funds to build and operate Phase One of the Luxembourg American Cultural Center.

The Luxembourg American Cultural Society is extremely grateful to the following major donors. Their generous gifts will be recognized through the naming of various components of the Luxembourg American Cultural Center and the New Luxembourg Development.

LACS is Close to its Goal!

$1,600,000 have been donated in cash, pledges, and in-kind gifts toward the Phase One Goal of $2,300,000. This leaves a balance of only $700,000 to achieve our Goal! Learn how you can help and contribute to the Roots and Leaves Capital Campaign...

Krier Family Wëllkomm Centre

Bruce Krier, CEO of Krier Foods, Random Lake, Wisconsin conferred a major gift to the Cultural Society in light of the Krier Family’s pride in their Luxembourg heritage and because of the company’s long history as a premiere corporation in Ozaukee and Sheboygan Counties, Wisconsin. The Krier Family has its roots in Bartringen (now Bertrange), Luxembourg. It was from that community that the family’s ancestors, John and Mary Katherine (Mans) Krier, emigrated to Town Belgium, Wisconsin.

In 1912, Bruce’s great-grandfather, J. B. Krier, a son of the immigrants, began Krier Preserving Company in Belgium, Wisconsin. The company used a two-line plant, equipped with the latest machinery and had a capacity of producing 80,000 cases of vegetables per day. In 1923, the company expanded and built a second plant in Random Lake. Over the years, both plants were expanded numerous times.

Bruce’s grandfather, Henry Krier, became president of Krier Preserving in 1947 and his father, Ray Krier, became president in 1964. Entering the beverage market in 1965, the firm added the Jolly Good soda line in 1966. Bruce Krier became president of the company after his father’s death in 1986 and is the fourth generation Krier to oversee the operation of the company. In 1988 the company sold its vegetable canning operations to Lakeside Foods and was reorganized as Krier Foods, Inc. The firm is still privately held and specializes in carbonated and non-carbonated beverages.

In recognition of the Krier Foods gift, the Welcome Center at the Luxembourg American Cultural Center will be named the Krier Family Wëllkomm Centre. Bruce Krier states: “The Krier Family and Krier Foods are proud to be the sponsor of the Wëllkomm Centre. It will be a great way to memorialize our family and the legacy of our company.”

The Krier Family Wëllkomm Centre will house the Luxembourg American Family Tree sculpture, a museum registration and information kiosk, a general display area, a Krier Foods legacy display, and a donor recognition wall. All visitors will enter the Cultural Center through the Krier Family Wëllkomm Centre where they will be welcomed and registered before visiting the Roots and Leaves Museum. The Krier Family Wëllkomm Centre will be a unique showpiece of the Cultural Center.

Adolph and Marie Ansay Luxembourg Courtyard

The Children of Adolph and Marie Ansay has donated a major gift to the Cultural Society. The gift was presented by the Ansay children as a memorial to their parents and as a testimony to their Luxembourg heritage. The Ansay family has its roots in Boulaide, Luxembourg.

Both Adolph and Marie Ansay were lifelong residents of northern Ozaukee County. After being raised on a farm in rural Port Washington, Adolph attended Marquette University and graduated in 1930. In 1932 he joined the Port Washington State Bank becoming manager and vice-president of the Belgium branch. Adolph continued in this capacity until his retirement in 1987 at which time he continued to be a director of the bank and its holding company.

Besides his career in banking, Adolph was well respected in real estate, auctioneering and insurance. He also served as supervisor on the Ozaukee County Board for 46 years. Governor of the State of Wisconsin, Tommy Thompson, honored Adolph for his many years of public service. Adolph died in 1995.

Marie Ansay was born in Belgium, Wisconsin to Mike and Elizabeth (Hamm) Krier. She graduated from St. Theresa College in Winona, Minnesota. Marie taught high school in Pulaski, Wisconsin. Marie married Adolph on November 21, 1940 and raised their six children. She was involved in numerous civic organizations. Marie died in 2001.

In recognition of the Ansay Family gift, the Luxembourg Courtyard at the Cultural Center will be named the Adolph and Marie Ansay Luxembourg Courtyard. The courtyard will accommodate outdoor exhibits and various social gatherings. It will serve as the Cultural Center’s primary outdoor gathering place. Surrounded by a three foot stone wall, the Adolph and Marie Ansay Luxembourg Courtyard will resemble a traditional Luxembourg garden. It will feature a sculpture of Our Lady of Luxembourg representing the religious life of the Luxembourg people. This sculpture is being donated by Luxembourg’s Ministry of Culture.

Zapp-Hoffmann Conference Room

The Zapp-Hoffmann Family of St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota has presented the Luxembourg American Cultural Society with a second major gift. The Zapp-Hoffmann Family presented their gift in a spirit of Luxembourg ethnic pride and because of the rich history of Zapp National Bank in St. Cloud. John Zapp, the family’s ancestor, emigrated to the US in 1854 from Schoenecken, Germany (a border village from “old Luxembourg”) and his wife Margaretha Hoffmann emigrated from Meysembourg, Luxembourg in 1847.

The Zapp banking tradition dates back to 1889, when John Zapp began an enterprise named Zapp’s Loan Bank in St. Cloud. John served as long-time Register of Deeds in Stearns County and was a trusted leader among the area’s early pioneers. In 1907, the bank incorporated and became known as Zapp State Bank. A new, state-of-the-art bank building was built by the family in 1913. John Zapp continued to serve as president of the bank until his death in 1915. He was succeeded by his son Edward O. Zapp, who was succeeded by his son Walter F. Zapp, who was succeeded by his brother Edward A. Zapp.

In 1949, the bank was remodeled and in 1962 a rebuilding and expansion program began. In the 1980’s space shortages at the downtown bank made it necessary to build a new main office building that opened in 1988. The five-story structure was known as Zapp Bank Plaza and is located at 9th Avenue and St. Germain Street. It is one of St. Cloud’s most prominent downtown buildings. Throughout their history in banking, the Zapp family was known for their integrity and progressive entrepreneurial spirit.

In 1997, the Zapp Family sold their bank to US Bank thus concluding a 108 year tradition as St. Cloud’s premiere bank. At the time the bank was sold, John’s great-grandsons, Edward J. Zapp and John E. Leisen, served as presidents of the holding company and bank.

In recognition of the Zapp-Hoffmann Family gift, the conference room at the Cultural Center will be named the Zapp-Hoffmann Conference Room. The conference room will house a variety of activities for the Cultural Society including board and staff meetings, committee meetings, Luxembourg language class, educational programs and presentations. The Zapp-Hoffmann Conference Room will feature portraits of John and Margaretha (Hoffmann) Zapp as well as photos of the family’s various bank buildings.

Meyers – Rolling Lake

The Luxembourg American Cultural Society, Inc. recently announced that a three-acre lake in the New Luxembourg Development surrounding the Luxembourg American Cultural Center will be named Meyers-Rolling Lake. The naming of the lake is in recognition of a major donation to the Cultural Center project by Chicagoans George Meyers and Dolores Meyers Chozianin. George and Dolores are the children of the late George and Marie (Rolling) Meyers, Sr., of Chicago, who were both of Luxembourg ancestry.

The Meyers family has its roots in Derenbach, Luxembourg where Nicholas Meyers, the grandfather of George and Dolores, was born. Nicholas emigrated to Evanston, Illinois in the 1880s and purchased land there which he truck farmed. Shortly thereafter, he wrote back to family in Luxembourg that he was in need of a wife. His family sought out Catherine Weiler-Schank, of Wilwerwiltz, Luxembourg, who at the time was working in a department store in Paris. Nicholas returned to Luxembourg to meet her and after six weeks the couple was married and moved permanently to Evanston. Nicholas then purchased the Didier Greenhouses in Evanston and continued to truck farm. Nicholas and Catherine had seven children including George Meyers, Sr., the father of donors George and Dolores.

The Rolling family has its roots in Esch-sur-Sûre, Luxembourg where Gregor Rolling was born. Gregor emigrated to Chicago in the early 1890s and worked as a janitor in various Catholic parishes and schools on Chicago’s north side. Gregor traveled with a group of friends from Chicago to Luxemburg, Iowa to attend a Luxembourg festival. It was there that he met his wife, Catherine Pettinger, who was born in Luxemburg, Iowa though her parents were immigrants from the Grand Duchy. Gregor and Catherine had 13 children including Marie Rolling, the mother of donors Georges and Dolores.

George Meyers, Sr. and Marie Rolling were married at St. Henry’s Church in Chicago in 1925 after meeting at the annual Schobermesse in Chicago. George took over operation of his father’s greenhouse and truck farm in Evanston. Each day he drove his buggy from Evanston to the Randolph Street Market in downtown Chicago where he sold his vegetables to restaurants and hotels in Chicago’s loop. The Meyers family continued to operate their greenhouse and truck farm in Evanston until 1939 after which time they moved to Chicago and began a trucking business.

George was an active member of the Luxembourg Brotherhood of America - Section Three. Throughout her life, Marie was very involved in the Luxembourg Damen Verein, the Luxembourg Schwestern Verein, and the Luxembourg Catholic Benevolent Association. George and Marie were also founding members of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Chicago.

The two children of George and Marie (Rolling) Meyers, Dolores Meyers Chozianin (b. 1928) and Georges Meyers, Jr. (b. 1933) have carried on the family’s Luxembourgian pride through their extensive involvement in the Luxembourg American community in Chicago.

Dolores serves as Assistant Editor of the Luxembourg News of America. She is a member of Section Three of the Luxembourg Brotherhood of America, the Luxembourg Independent Club of Chicago, and a founder member of the Luxembourg American Cultural Society . Dolores also coordinates the annual display of Luxembourg Christmas Trees at “Christmas Around the World” at the Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry and at “Winter Wonderland” at Navy Pier.

One of George’s greatest honors was to serve on the Welcoming Committee for Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Jean of Luxembourg when they visited Chicago in the early 1960s. George is currently the Grand President of the Grand Lodge of the Luxembourg Brotherhood of America, a member of Sections Three and Eight of the Luxembourg Brother of America, Treasurer of the Luxembourg News of America and a founder member of the Luxembourg American Cultural Society.

In 1993, Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg awarded George the “Chevalier Award of Merit from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg” in recognition of his efforts to promote ongoing good will and activity between Luxembourg and Luxembourg Americans in metro-Chicago.

In conferring the family’s gift to the Luxembourg American Cultural Center, George stated: “Dolores and I are very excited about the Cultural Center since we both are so proud of our Luxembourg ancestry. We also believe that the naming of Meyers-Rolling Lake will be a fitting way to preserve our family’s legacy.”

Hubert Hansen Lane

Hubert Hansen Family

Chicago, Illinois