Jaegers honor Catholic school
<p>Dr. Ellen Jaeger, right, and Jerry Jaeger, president of Hagadone Hospitality, present Karen Durgin, principal of Holy Family Catholic School, with a framed copy of the Coeur d'Alene Press in which the school was featured in the Pride of North Idaho program on March 4.</p>
When Holy Family Catholic School supporters decided it was time for a new building, Jerry and Ellen Jaeger helped answer their prayers.
The Jaegers are continuing their support of the school, built at its current location on the corner of Kathleen Avenue and Atlas Road in 2003, by underwriting the Pride of North Idaho program that recently featured the school in The Press.
The Jaegers' Catholic school roots run deep. Ellen attended Catholic School, first at St. Thomas and then later at IHM High School, where she and Jerry met.
Along with Harry Magnuson and John McHugh, Jerry served on the committee to raise funds to build Holy Family Catholic School.
"It was a tough assignment but many people pitched in to help," said Jerry.
Jerry and Ellen decided to make the lead gift to build the school in honor of their parents, Joseph and Maureen Jaeger and Dr. Walter and Patricia Matson. The school's chapel is dedicated to their memory.
At one time all five Jaeger grandkids - Jasmine, Jacob, JD, JoJo and Jennelle - attended the school. Now Jacob and JoJo continue to attend, and their parents, JJ and Angela Jaeger, are very active in the school. Jasmine, JD and Jennelle have moved to Texas, where they are a military family stationed at Fort Bliss with their parents, Jennifer and Damon Darakjy.
"Holy Family Catholic School is a wonderful environment for student learning and is one of the top schools in the state," Jerry said. "Parental involvement is one of the many areas that are so impressive. It is a very special place."
For more information on Pride of North Idaho, contact Managing Editor Mike Patrick at 664-0227 or mpatrick@cdapress.com.