A life of learning, teaching and service
She taught in Rushville, Havana and Virginia before relocating to Kankakee, where she spent the final 30 years of her professional life.
After graduating from Illinois College, Marjorie Krone ’42 devoted her life to education, with a distinguished 40-year career teaching high school science. She taught in Rushville, Havana and Virginia before relocating to Kankakee, where she spent the final 30 years of her professional life.
Among her many achievements, Krone was the only Illinois teacher chosen to participate in a national symposium on nuclear energy in 1966 and selected by Indiana University to participate in an advanced degree program the same year. She was honored for her outstanding volunteer efforts by being name Citizen of the Year in 1983 by the Kankakee School District. After retiring in the 1980s, Krone relocated back to the Jacksonville area and continued to make an impact on the community as a dedicated volunteer.
With her obvious giving spirit, it would likely be no surprise to those who knew her that one of Krone’s final gestures upon her passing in 2018, at the age of 97, will have a lasting impact on the education of students at her alma mater for many years to come.
It was, however, a surprise to everyone at Illinois College when they learned that the late educator had gifted more than $850,000 to the College through her estate. Krone also left gifts to several other organizations that aligned with those causes most important to her.
Jenny Norris Peterson, a Jacksonville native who is a philanthropy consultant based in St. Paul, Minnesota, says: “Creating estate plan gifts for charitable organizations people care deeply about brings tremendous joy to the donor. They have laid the groundwork to strengthen institutions or causes that have touched their own lives or that are acting on their concerns for their community and world. They leave a legacy to their values, and they make the world a better place.”
“There are many different ways to give charitably beyond writing a check. Donors who leave estate gifts often make a major difference in the causes and organizations to which they give. Because the organization receives the gift after the donor’s lifetime, the donor often can give a larger gift through the estate than at any point while living.”
Peterson adds that talking with gift officers from favorite charities and professional advisors (financial planners, accountants or attorneys) helps people explore and understand the benefits of various types of estate gifts — will bequests, charitable beneficiary designations, life insurance gifts, and charitable trusts or gift annuities. There can be significant tax savings associated with particular gifts.
Peterson has worked closely with President Barbara A. Farley to launch Purpose, Passion & Philanthropy, a longterm initiative to celebrate and embrace the role of Illinois College women as stewards of the College’s future.
“Estate plan gifts are essential to the long-term health and strength of Illinois College,” said President Farley. “I am deeply grateful for the generosity of Marjorie Krone. She loved and respected the College and took concrete action to demonstrate her belief in IC and its students. I wish we could have thanked her for this gift while she was still living. It is truly remarkable and will benefit Illinois College for generations to come.”
Caption: Marjorie Krone ’42 (right) pictured with IC classmates, Gwen Brim Woods ’42 (deceased 2012) and Charles “Chick” Henske ’42 (deceased 2007).
