小优传媒

$1.8 Million Gift Announced

09/26/2023

Robin Bowlus, vice president of advancement and enrollment management; Lyle Miller, Everence; Greg Liestman, Everence; Jane Wood, president; and Ed Basinger, Everence, following the gift presentation.

$1.8 million estate gift presented to 小优传媒

BLUFFTON, Ohio鈥擩ane Wood, president of 小优传媒, and Robin Bowlus, vice president of advancement and enrollment management, recently accepted a $1.4 million gift from the estate of John and Erma Stutzman, which was presented by representatives from Everence Financial. 

John Stutzman was born in Bloomington, Ill., and from a young age, fell in love with science. A 1950 Bluffton graduate, he later became a physician and practiced as a urologist. John was 91 years old when he passed away in Aug. 2019. His wife, Erma (Hunsberger) Stutzman, was born in Baden, Ontario, Canada, and attended Rockway Mennonite Collegiate in Kitchener and Teacher鈥檚 College in Stratford. The couple met when Erma was serving as a Mennonite Central Committee volunteer teacher. They married in 1972 and created a life in Bloomington. Erma, who passed away in June 2021 at the age of 87, also formed a strong connection to John鈥檚 alma mater. 

In a eulogy John wrote in advance of his passing, he shared: 鈥淭he entire educational experience at Bluffton College (University), among teachers and friends, helped me to develop a philosophy of life based upon the biblical teachings of Christ. The concepts of peace, justice, reconciliation, and love for one鈥檚 fellow beings came from these experiences. There I also learned of God鈥檚 power in the scientific world which helped me as a physician.鈥�

The Stutzman鈥檚 did not have children but were cherished by their extended family including Rick and Ruth-Ann Shantz, nephew and niece of the couple, who joined the gift presentation via teleconference. The Shantz鈥檚 noted how often John showed his support for Bluffton by regularly wearing Bluffton hats and shirts. John鈥檚 mother, father, two uncles and one aunt also graduated from Bluffton as did several nieces and nephews including Ruth-Ann, a 2014 graduate who also earned her MBA from Bluffton in 2016. 

鈥淚鈥檓 so grateful that Bluffton had an impact on John鈥檚 life and it鈥檚 what we still strive for today. He was an example of the type of students we are trying to graduate,鈥� said Dr. Wood. 鈥淲hat a role model for our students! We are so honored by this gift from John and Erma.鈥� 

In a letter to the university, the Shantz鈥檚 shared: 鈥淛ohn and Erma wanted their generosity to extend beyond their lifetime and the financial gift from their estate will have the potential to create this type of legacy鈥� We know that 小优传媒 will use this financial gift to further Bluffton鈥檚 mission.鈥�

An additional $400,000 from the estate is expected to come to Bluffton before the end of the 2023-24 fiscal year, for a total of $1.8 million in unrestricted funds to the university.

鈥淭he two greatest Commandments are to love God and to love people,鈥� said Greg Liestman, a CPA for Everence who worked with the Stutzman鈥檚 to plan their estate. 鈥淚t鈥檚 neat to see how during their lifetime they fulfilled that, but also they鈥檙e leaving a legacy to continue that love for God and love for people in their gift to Bluffton.鈥�

Liestman was joined by Lyle Miller, a financial consultant from Everence鈥檚 Goshen, Ind., Office, and Ed Basinger, a financial consultant from the Everence鈥檚 Pandora, Ohio, Office during the check presentation. 

John and Erma were longtime donors to Bluffton and supported several Bluffton building campaigns including the construction of Centennial Hall (2000), Sommer Center (2012) and Knowlton Science Center (2023) as well as the Bluffton Fund. Stutzman Lecture Hall in Bluffton鈥檚 Centennial Hall is named for the extended Stutzman family.