Koenig Family Scholarship Endowment Fund
The Koenig Family Scholarship Endowment Fund was created in loving tribute to Jack and Amelie Koenig for their generous contributions and sincere commitment to St. Ignatius Church and School.
Beginning in 1949 from their home on Brooklyn Street, the Koenigs worked tirelessly in support of building the parish physical plant. Their desire was to facilitate the further development of an exceptional learning environment that nurtured children in the Catholic faith. This commitment was made not only for the benefit of their seven children (all St. Ignatius alums) but especially for each child in the greater St. Ignatius family: past, present and future.
Jack passed away on December 17, 1992, of leukemia and related complications. He had been a member of St. Ignatius Parish for 43 years. He was born August 18, 1918, in Seattle and moved to Portland as a child. He attended high school at Redemptorist Seminary in Oakland, Calif. Before returning permanently to Portland.
In 1941 Jack married Amelie Peyralans. They moved into St. Ignatius in 1949 after Jack and his father built the home where he and Amelie raised their children and lived for the remainder of the 51 years of marriage.
Shortly before World War II, Jack and two friends founded Home Building Plan Service. The business was one of the first and largest supplier of stock home plans in the U.S. Home Building Plan Service specialized in vacation homes and was largely responsible for popularizing the A-frame design. Jack operated the home design firm for more than 35 years until retiring in 1980.
Jack was an active member of St. Ignatius. He was the chairman of the first parish fund drive that provided money to construct the school, church, rectory and convent. He also participated in early parish bazaars that helped fund many of these building projects. For many years, he was co-chair of the annual St. Ignatius Italian Dinner. This dinner, which he nurtured so carefully, has grown to be a major fundraiser and festive parish and community event.
Jack was a talented and enthusiastic athlete, especially fond of baseball and softball. He played fast-pitch softball in the parish league in the early 1950s. He was active in the CYO athletic program, coaching the girls’ softball team during the late 1950s. He coached Southeast Little League baseball teams from 1961-69. Many of the team members, including his own children, were recruited from St. Ignatius School.
In the early 1970s Jack renewed his participation on the parish fast-pitch softball team. At the age of 55, accompanied by his teammate sons John and Bill, Jack pitched the 1973 team to the Portland Parish League Championship. He was an avid bowler and played on the Knights of Columbus bowling league for more than 10 years.
Then he found his true sports love: golf. As his enthusiasm for the game grew, he organized the St. Ignatius Golf Tournament, which he chaired for 14 years. (The parish champion was required to serve as chairman for the next year’s competition.)
He was also devoted to his work on the St. Ignatius School Foundation board.
He was involved in a number of other Catholic organizations and causes, including chairing the fund drive to build Loyola Retreat House. He was a long-time member of Loyola’s Central Committee. He was on the board of St. Mary’s Academy, founded the Jesuit High School auction, served on Jesuit’s board and was president of the Parents’ Club. He was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus and Holy Name Society.
Jack and Amelie’s children include Denise Tuhy, Julie Koenig, Suzanne Burris, Bill and John Koenig, Bernadette Strand, and Yvonne Pollard. They had 14 grandchildren.
Beginning in 1949 from their home on Brooklyn Street, the Koenigs worked tirelessly in support of building the parish physical plant. Their desire was to facilitate the further development of an exceptional learning environment that nurtured children in the Catholic faith. This commitment was made not only for the benefit of their seven children (all St. Ignatius alums) but especially for each child in the greater St. Ignatius family: past, present and future.
Jack passed away on December 17, 1992, of leukemia and related complications. He had been a member of St. Ignatius Parish for 43 years. He was born August 18, 1918, in Seattle and moved to Portland as a child. He attended high school at Redemptorist Seminary in Oakland, Calif. Before returning permanently to Portland.
In 1941 Jack married Amelie Peyralans. They moved into St. Ignatius in 1949 after Jack and his father built the home where he and Amelie raised their children and lived for the remainder of the 51 years of marriage.
Shortly before World War II, Jack and two friends founded Home Building Plan Service. The business was one of the first and largest supplier of stock home plans in the U.S. Home Building Plan Service specialized in vacation homes and was largely responsible for popularizing the A-frame design. Jack operated the home design firm for more than 35 years until retiring in 1980.
Jack was an active member of St. Ignatius. He was the chairman of the first parish fund drive that provided money to construct the school, church, rectory and convent. He also participated in early parish bazaars that helped fund many of these building projects. For many years, he was co-chair of the annual St. Ignatius Italian Dinner. This dinner, which he nurtured so carefully, has grown to be a major fundraiser and festive parish and community event.
Jack was a talented and enthusiastic athlete, especially fond of baseball and softball. He played fast-pitch softball in the parish league in the early 1950s. He was active in the CYO athletic program, coaching the girls’ softball team during the late 1950s. He coached Southeast Little League baseball teams from 1961-69. Many of the team members, including his own children, were recruited from St. Ignatius School.
In the early 1970s Jack renewed his participation on the parish fast-pitch softball team. At the age of 55, accompanied by his teammate sons John and Bill, Jack pitched the 1973 team to the Portland Parish League Championship. He was an avid bowler and played on the Knights of Columbus bowling league for more than 10 years.
Then he found his true sports love: golf. As his enthusiasm for the game grew, he organized the St. Ignatius Golf Tournament, which he chaired for 14 years. (The parish champion was required to serve as chairman for the next year’s competition.)
He was also devoted to his work on the St. Ignatius School Foundation board.
He was involved in a number of other Catholic organizations and causes, including chairing the fund drive to build Loyola Retreat House. He was a long-time member of Loyola’s Central Committee. He was on the board of St. Mary’s Academy, founded the Jesuit High School auction, served on Jesuit’s board and was president of the Parents’ Club. He was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus and Holy Name Society.
Jack and Amelie’s children include Denise Tuhy, Julie Koenig, Suzanne Burris, Bill and John Koenig, Bernadette Strand, and Yvonne Pollard. They had 14 grandchildren.