Remembering Our Lodge Of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha Brothers And Sister

We remember those whom we have recently lost. They were members of our Ondessonk Family as well as members of the Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha. Their lives made a distinct impact on the campers of Ondessonk and on all of us.

John M. Boatwright

July 17, 1959 – December 2, 2024

Lodge Member, Camper, C.I.T., Staff, Donor

John M. Boatwright (JB) of Bardwell, Ky., passed away Monday, December 2, 2024, at the age of 65. He was born in Los Angeles, Calif., and when he was four years old, his family relocated to Paducah, Ky. JB attended the St. Mary School System in Paducah and later attended the College of the Ozarks in Missouri.

His favorite place was Camp Ondessonk. He was a camper in the early 1970s and went on to be a CIT and Staff member until 1977. During his time on staff, he could be found in the Stables during Boys’ Season, and working in the kitchen and on Maintenance during Girls’ Season. He was inducted into the Lodge of Ondessonk as a camper.

JB began his professional career in the oil business as a NACE Coatings Inspector in the early 1980s. He dedicated his professional life to overseeing the preservation of various structures and materials. His craftsmanship and attention to detail were surpassed only by the warmth he extended to colleagues and friends alike. JB’s zest for life and infectious laughter filled every room he entered.

He lived in Louisiana for many years while working on offshore oil facilities, and became fully immersed in the culture. During his career in the oil industry, he had the opportunity to travel throughout the country to work on numerous bridge projects and traveled internationally to work on special projects in both Africa and Europe.

JB never met a stranger. He had a gregarious nature that drew others to him. His humor, friendliness, and spirited demeanor made him a cherished presence at any gathering. He embodied the finest qualities of a friend.

Ann K. Hogan, 66, of Granite City, Ill., formerly of Murphysboro, Ill., died peacefully at home with family in O’Fallon, Ill. She was born and grew up in East St. Louis, Ill., where she went to St. Philip grade school and St. Teresa Academy. She then moved to Carbondale, Ill., where she attended SIUC and completed a B.S. in Child & Family Education and later an M.S. in Education. She loved children, and worked as an Assistant Instructor for SIUC’s Pre-K Program.

After raising her three children, Ann worked as a Billing Accountant for PMCL, later CDM, where she retired. She was an avid golfer and Cardinal’s fan, and loved to be outside in the beauty of nature.

She often volunteered at Camp Ondessonk where she made many friends. She was a camper from 1969 through 1971 and became a Lodge member in 1971. Her childhood friend, Theresa Farley, recalls that her favorite things about Camp were canoeing, hiking, singing songs, and hanging out with friends. Theresa relates a funny story, “We were staying in the tents one year as a camper, and telling ghost stories at night. One of the girls thought she heard something in the woods behind us. She lifted up the tent flap and saw two red eyes (probably of a critter) and screamed. We all started screaming in a panic and running in different directions to try to get out of the tent. Needless to say, we bent the tent pole, the tent collapsed, and of course it was raining. We all laughed so hard that our stomachs hurt. I still laugh about it!”

Ann brought joy to all she met and was easily counted a friend. She was tough, and through the many trials of life, could always find joy and hope. Many have been blessed by her warmth, love, and humor.

Kurt W. Spies

January 28, 1966 – September 21, 2024

Lodge Member, Camper, Volunteer

Kurt W. “Louie” Spies of Trenton, Ill., passed away September 21, 2024, at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese.

Kurt dedicated much of his professional life to his work as a plumber and pipefitter, proudly serving as a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 101 in Belleville. He was also an active member of several organizations, including Masonic Lodge 109, former Knights of Columbus member, and as a Lodge Member at Camp Ondessonk, a place where many precious family memories were made.

An avid outdoorsman, Kurt found joy in backpacking, camping, and volunteering at Ondessonk for many years. Some of the projects he worked on was the building of St. Noel Conference Center, Monsignor Fournie Mini Camp Village, replacing the roof on the original Dining Hall, tearing out carpeting in the Chapel, rebuilding the catwalks in Chabanel, and most recently the construction of Pete Korte Lodge. For the last 20 years, Kurt was instrumental in bringing together friends from Clinton County for the “Buddy Weekend,” named after his father, Louis “Buddy” Spies.

Kurt was a camper during his grade-school years, and was inducted into the Lodge of Ondessonk in 1977. He always said that Camp Ondessonk was his favorite place, and that he loved being there. His love of Camp has certainly benefitted campers throughout the years.