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Donor spotlight: Marie Louise Lokken Fund

December 4, 2020

Jamie Schloegel, Chief Executive OfficerBy Jamie Schloegel, Chief Executive Officer

Marie Louise Lokken Fund

The Marie Louise Lokken Fund was established in 2007 by her son, Jay Lokken and his partner Ken Riley and their family, to forever honor her memory and her passion for La Crosse Symphony Orchestra.

Marie was born in 1924, and passed in 2007 at the age of 82. She had three sons, two daughters, and many grand and great-grandchildren, and is held in their memory as being the wonderful, loving, and caring matriarch of the family.

Marie’s dedication to the symphony will continue, forever

Marie was a member of Friends of the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. Her namesake fund is designated to support the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra with grants for composition pieces, to host guest conductors, and to provide programming within the city of La Crosse.

And because of Jay and Ken’s fundraising efforts, the fund continues to grow. They host a lavish holiday open house each year to gather friends and family, who in turn generously make gifts to support the fund. Their party is one many symphony supporters look forward to during the holiday season. And each dollar added to the fund is invested and allows for greater grants to the symphony each year.

Memorialize a loved one and their favorite charities

This type of fund is a beautiful and popular way for families to memorialize a loved one and their charitable interests in perpetuity. The Marie Louise Lokken Fund will live on forever in her name to ensure the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra can remain a beloved arts opportunity in La Crosse.

Last year, Jay and Ken established another designated fund in memory of Ken’s mom, Carrol J. Riley-DeGier. This fund’s beneficiary is Tabby Town USA in Westby, as Carrol loved cats and cared deeply about them finding good, safe homes.

All are welcome to contribute

If you would like to support these endowed funds that benefit La Crosse Symphony Orchestra and Tabby Town USA, but do not want to start your own fund, we invite you to contribute to the Marie Louise Lokken Fund or the Carrol J. Riley-DeGier Fund. Please click here to do so. Simply write the fund name in the designation box on the donate form.