Giving Tuesday
This GivingTuesday, we didn’t just meet our goals we soared past them. Our initial goal was $5,000. Our stretch goal was $10,000. Because of the generosity of Crusaders like YOU, we raised a remarkable $19,178.06.
We are overjoyed by this outcome. But even more meaningful than the total raised are the stories behind each gift. Every donation carried a name, a memory, or a legacy that reflects the heart of our Heelan community.
Below are the dedications shared by those who gave this GivingTuesday. We invite you to read them slowly and take in the lives, the teachers, the coaches, the classmates, and the loved ones who inspired this incredible day of generosity.
Our Heelan Heroes
In Honor of Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools - Pete Sandman
In Honor of Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools - Mike and Mary McGowan
In Memory of Al Charlson and Beanie Cooper. - Don Charlson
In Memory of Mark Winkel. - Susan Boden
In Honor of Mrs. Daugherty, Ms. Augustine, Mrs. Sitzman, Coach Roger Jansen, Coach Max Duvall, Coach Nick Archer, Fr. Stap.Once a Crusader, always a Crusader! - Anonymous
In Memory of Dee Blatchford. - Joanne Newton
In Memory of Rev. Paul Eisele. -James & Amy Bisenius
In Memory of Duane Meier. -Bob Kull
In honor of my 2 favorite teachers: Denis Hirschman and Sr. Ruth DeWitt. I learned so much from Denis Hirschman and Sr. Ruth DeWitt through the many classes I took from them. Both so kind and encouraging and Sr. Ruth with her quick wit and funny sayings that I still use today!! - Susan Shuey
In Memory of Band Director Harold Lorenz. - Charles Porcello
In Memory of Austin Blakey Jr. LLABJ3. Austin Xavier Blakey Junior LLABJ3 Baby Aus you were taken too soon, but we know you are our guardian angel, you watch over us all. I pray you are playing basketball and football and laughing and dancing with our Creator. We love you and we carry a little piece of you in our hearts and prayers. LLABJ3 Long Live Austin Blakey Jr. his Heelan number 3 and Arena/Siouxland number 33. - Cherri and Yazmyn Damian Hernandez
In Honor of Coach Jerry Steffen. - Cory Kruse
In Honor of Mrs. Marisa O’Conner. Mrs. Marisa O'Conner She is the absolute best! Since my child started school there she has been my favorite go to person and if she doesn't know the answer, she gets you too whomever does. She is a Blessing! - Cherri and Damian Hernandez
In Honor of MICHAEL R. KUEHL. - Patrick Kuehl
In Honor of Class of 1967. - Linda Bracht
In Honor of Ashley Ruehle. I'm thankful that my daughter, Ashley, has chosen to teach at her Alma Mater.- Kerry Ruehle
In Memory of Miss Murphy. - Sarah Shoultz-Burman
In Honor of Class of 1958. My husband John was a member of this class -Pauline Kuehl
In Honor of Charles Hopkins and his many years of dedication to music at Heelan and all of the parochial schools. - Tom Obrien
In Memory of Deceased Class members of 1976 Saint Boniface. - Bobby Thompson
In Honor of Don Fleming, Leo Hupke, and Dick Collins. - John Calhoun
In Honor of Coach Mark Sullivan. I'm honoring Coach Mark Sullivan because he taught us to keep working harder! - Kathryn Banks
In Honor of 2009, 2010, 2011 State Basketball Champs. I'm honoring Coach Mark Sullivan because he taught us to keep working harder! - Anonymous
In Memory of George Heenan and Lucille Blum Heenan
Sister and sister-in-law, deaths in 2025, George Heenan was football star at Heelan in 1958. - Marci Blum OSF
In Memory of Gary Determan. - Anonymous
In Honor of Coach Burchard, Coach Malsom, and Coach Triplett. - Tom Hanlon
In Honor of Dee Blatchford and Denis Hirschman- Donated by Anonymous
In Honor of Nick Archer. - Pamela Carlton
All Heelan Staff and Students. - Anonymous
In Honor of Coach Malsam and Burchard. Became a teacher/coach because of Coach Malsam & Burchard. You may never be rich but will always be happy. - Tom McCann
In Honor of Ms Augustine. - Mary B McCabe
In Honor of 2008 & 2013 State Football Champions. In honor of coaching the great young men of Heelan Football Teams 1986-2018. - Jerry Steffen
In Honor of Mr & Mrs Patrick Merchant. - Mickelli Harris
In Memory of Sr. Ruth DeWitt. Sr. Ruth was the best! A brilliant person, she could have been doing great and exciting things in universities or in a private business. Instead, she answered a call to religious life and her vocation of teaching science to high school kids. Perhaps the best teacher I had including college and grad school. We were blessed to have her at Heelan. - Rick Hunsaker
In Memory of Fr. Paul Eisele. - John Flanery
Choral/vocal program! That was where I found my connection to Heelan. - Karen Neilsen Cleland
In Honor of Class of 2010 teachers & staff. In memory of Lexie Wakan LaMere. - Cynthia LaMere
In Honor of Mrs. Augustine and Alicia Porsch. - Erin Glidden
In Honor of Coach Brendan Burchard & Coach John Sandman. Will never forget Coach Burchard teaching us the history of Heelan football & legends of the past. Coach Sandman taught me discipline & how to be a leader. - Patrick Berger
In Memory of Carrie Mach. - Laura Grebasch
In Honor of Class of 1982. - Mary Pick
In Honor of Denis Hirschman. -Laura Grebasch
In Memory of Keaton Chicoine. – Anonymous
In Memory of Sunny and Bernie Kull. The Crusader Spirit Lives On!! -Bob Kull
In Honor of JOSEPH AND HILARIA GUENTHER. - JOAN DOBMEIER
In Honor of Carol Happe. - Mary Uhl
In Honor of Denis Hirschman and Judy Van Patton. -Gary Uhl
All past, present, and future Bishop Heelan faculty, staff, and administrators! Thank you for your service and dedication! -Jeri Sturges
In Honor of Father Patrick Walsh and Mike Sweeney. - Mary Uhl
In memory of Soccer Coach John Sandman. In honor of Baseball Coach Tim O’Neill. In honor of Basketball Coach Tom Betz. 3 coaches that I have a ton of respect for! 3 of the best! - Jared Small
In Memory of Father Lloyd White. - Jim McCrystal
To honor Mr. Collins for his patience with me during typing class! - Mary Motz
In Honor of Jane Navarude as we spent lots of time together in the early 80’s. - Rebecca Smith
In Honor of Fr Victor Ramaeker. To honor a wonderful priest, teacher and mentor. -John Keane
In Honor of Dan O'Brien & Dee Blatchford. For the way they guided us to open our thoughts to the world and the people around us - not just to follow blindly the path laid before us. Inspiring teachers inspire greatness in personhood and in actions. - Jada & Joe Kurth
In Memory of Ann Rehan Goebel--Class of '79. - Rachael Wrage
In Honor of Dick Collins & Dee Blatchford. - Tom & Jacque Yaneff
In Honor of Sister Rosalie Erdmann & Jeri Lynn Sturges. - Jean Moore
In Honor of Mary Lou O'Gorman. - Molly Billings
In Memory of Tom and Patty Skaff former Heelan Graduates who have passed. - Mark Skaff
In Honor of Class of 2010, Mr. Burchard, Mrs. Blatchford, Mr. Brunken, Mrs. Sitzmann, Sturge, Coach Kool, Coach Doug Moody, Shawn Mansfield. - Amanda Ruckdaschel
In Honor of Laurie Dougherty -Anonymous
For all the great past & present staff. Truly a dedicated bunch! -Scott & Mimi Wieck
In Memory of Patty Thompson. - Annie Bennett
In Honor of Brendan Burchard. -Barbara Reynolds
The ladies at the front desk!!!! We're a better building with them in it. Go Crusaders! - Andy Foster
In Honor of Mrs. Blatchford, Mrs. Augustine, Mr. Burchard, Mrs. Sitzman, Mrs. Kiel, Mr. Wright, Mr. Bork, Coach Doug Moody, Mr. Brunkan, Ms. Sturges, Ms. Guy. - Samantha Smith
In Honor of Father Lafferty. -Tom Lynch
In Honor of Mr. Betz, Mrs. Augustine, Mrs. Daugherty, and Mrs. Johnson. - Patrick Grace
In Honor of Class of '85. Once a Crusader always a Crusader! -Jeri Sturges
In Honor of All Heelan teachers who have stayed over 20 years. -Nan Kiel
In Honor of Nan Kiel. -Jay Wright
In Honor of Mary Kay Augustine. - Chuck & Carol Happe
In Honor of JB and DH. - Anonymous
In Memory of Sister Catherine. - Jodi Nelson
In Honor of Mike Sweeney. - Karen Fry
In Honor of Mrs. Vizintos. -Shane Gallaugher
In Memory of Josh Lester ‘13, and Chava Valdovinos ’13. -Clayton Bengford
In Honor of Class of 2005. -Matt Cleveland
In Honor of Coaches Joe Malsam, Jon Olson, and Brendan Burchard. - Tim Uber
In Honor of Coach Tom Sawyer. - Tim Uber
In Honor of Fr.Victor Ramaeker. - Laurie Dougherty
In Honor of Megan Schettler. - Thomas Rickert
In Honor of MARY LOU OGORMAN. Mary Lou was a special teacher and a special friend. -TOM BETZ
In Honor of Tom Betz - For all his hard work supporting Heelan. For Tom Betz and all the great work he does for Heelan! -Michael Maas
In Memory of Mary Castle. -Anonymous
In Honor of In honor of the faculty and staff from 1977 to 1981. -Mary Hartnett
In Honor of Class of 1981, 2009, 2011. For the Teachers of Heelan, Class of 1981, 2 daughters classes of 2009 and 2011. Special Mentions: Coach Burchard and Jon Olson and Father Rainmaker. - Timothy McClintock
In Honor of Mrs. Sitzman, Mrs. Johnson, and the Coaches of '02. I feel it is a nice gesture.- Matthew Rector
In Honor of The Bishop Heelan teachers, coaches, and administrators! Thank you for guiding our sons toward His kingdom! Andrew and Laura Sprague to give thanks for the education and support our sons Cole, Owen, and Liam receive daily from Heelan / Holy Cross educators, coaches, and administrators.- Laura Sprague
In Honor of Odom and Sitzman - two of our kids’ favorite teachers. -Anonymous
In Memory of Isaac Roerig, class of 2020. - Susan Roerig
In Honor of Deb Jorgensen. Deb was my Spanish teacher and also a colleague who was a great mentor to me when I first started teaching at Heelan. -Jeri Sturges
In Honor of Mrs. Beaulieu. -Bryce Harpenau
In Honor of Father Roger Linann. -Jim McCrystal
In Honor of Mrs Hoffman. - Lydia Harpenau
In Honor of Michelle Davis. I always appreciated how Michelle showed up every day. She is a tireless worker that has a great attitude, warm interactions, and treats people with kindness. -Carli Berger
In Memory of Sister Ruth and Mrs Blatchford. -Deb Harpenau
In Honor of Sr. Ruth Dewitt, who encouraged me not to be a doctor. -Linda Santi
In Honor of Father McCoy. - Tony Jones
In Honor of Tom Brunkan. He gave me confidence in my math skills as a student and as a colleague, I witnessed his genuine interest and care for our students. - Mindy Oberle
In Honor of Pat Sitzmann. -Cory Kruse
In Honor of Coach Norm Brown. I am Coach Brown's wife. He is passionate about coaching basketball and I'm grateful this passion is instilled in him. -Jeanna Brown
In Honor of 1976 Faculty & Staff. - Mike & Liz Rickert
In Honor of Mary Regenscheid. Mary Regenscheid was a wonderful teacher, colleague and mentor. She is a great friend! -Jeri Sturges
In Memory of Gary Determan. Gary Determan, Mr. D, Crash - recently passed away. - Juliane and John Flanery
In Honor of Teachers at Heelan and class of 1965. Because Heelan provided me the education to have a successful life. - Robert Coacher
In Honor of Heelan Teachers and Class of 1987. To the Heelan teachers and Heelan Class of 1987 for providing such a great education and supportive environment. -Amy Sobaski
In Memory of Gary Determan. -Joseph Krage
In Honor of Bill Thayer. He was a great guy!!!. - Tom Betz
In Honor of All the fabulous teachers and staff. - Anonymous
In Memory of Coach Julius “Butch” Shkurensky. -Brendan Burchard
In Memory of Sr. Mary Anthony, S.C. C. – My mentor. -Brendan Burchard
In Memory of Coach Beanie Cooper. - Brendan Burchard
In Thanksgiving for my Catholic education, it has served me well. - Julie Landry Thomason
In Honor of 2020 Girls Basketball State Champions. - Darron Koolstra
In Honor of 2010 Girls Basketball State Champions. - Darron Koolstra
In Memory of Sister DeLourdes. - Sally Earley
In Honor of Mr. Hirschman. - Mike Graves
In Memory of Sister Ruth DeWitt. Sister Ruth helped me to be a nurse. A career that I have enjoyed for many years. - Kathy Hart
In Honor of Dick Collins (Retired Teacher). Dick Collin’s was my typing teacher in the late 1960’s. I always enjoyed his class & what a great teacher and role model he was! - Nadine Schlienz
In Honor of Father Dan Guenther. I chose Fr. Dan Guenther. He is a Heelan grad who dedicated his life to the priesthood to guide Catholics in our Diocese to practice their faith. He also served as President of Bishop Heelan High School and in recent years has voluntarily raised funds to support our campus ministry program at Bishop Heelan High School. I am impressed and deeply grateful for Fr. Guenther's dedication and initiative. - Janet Flanagan
In Honor of Michael Sweeney. - Mark and Pat Wurth
In honor of Jeri Sturges and all the teachers who taught my sister in 2006, this donation is made on behalf of my late sister Tanisha Girard Andersen, Class of 2006. May every Heelan teacher know the immense impact they have had and continue to have on each student they encounter.- Rebekah Armstrong
In Honor of Bernice Vizintos. Mrs. Vizintos was my 9th grade English teacher. She really inspired me to develop a love of writing! - Tom Betz
In Honor of Mrs. Scoville - B.S. - Tammy Eveleth
Mrs Blatchford- for cultivating critical thinking and her passion for truth and understanding. The best science teacher ever! – Anonymous
In honor of Laurie Welte Dougherty for her many years of commitment to the mission of Bishop Heelan High School. - Dede Dougherty Crowley and Tom Dougherty
In honor of Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools. - Regina Roth
In honor of my parents Peggy and Laurence Reynolds, who had the desire and goal to put all nine Reynolds children through the Catholic school system in Sioux City. First at Epiphany and then Heelan. – Nora Lerer
In Memory of Sister Clarenita & Sister Rosemunda. Sister Rosemunda and Sister Claranita were great leaders back in the day for St. Michael's School. - Patty McClintock
In Honor of Fr. Patrick Walsh. - Chris Bork