Michael Patrick Gonser graduated from Pius X High School in 1981. He was a National Honor Society member, and participated in the Foreign Language Club and Future Business Leaders of America during his time attending Pius X.
Michael volunteered at the St. Teresa Thrift Store, and many joined in prayer when he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He passed away at age 57 on June 18, 2021, in Ralston, NE. Michael left an incredible legacy to forever benefit Pius X students, by designating more than $300,000 in his will toward Pius X scholarships to help students in need.
Courtney Johnson, Executive Director of the Pius X Foundation, shared: “This very generous and unexpected gift from our alum, Michael, substantially increases the number of scholarships we will be able to award to future students. We are beyond grateful to Michael, and to all of our benefactors who believe in helping future generations receive a Catholic education.”
Letter from a grateful family
Thank you so much for the scholarship, which provided a portion of the tuition for [our daughter] to attend Pius X! ….She is our oldest child and the first to experience Pius X.
Your financial assistance means more to us than we can express! This past year…has been a rough one for our family. I am the primary breadwinner for our family, and I have been struggling with [a chronic illness] that was just diagnosed within the last couple of years. There have been a lot of ups and downs this past year with monthly medical appointments and expensive medication to alleviate the symptoms of the disorder. In addition, this summer I [had to get surgery to address additional health concerns].
Two weeks before the start of the school year, we were wondering whether we would be able to send [our child] to Pius X due to all the financial issues for medical issues as well as several necessary, expensive vehicle repairs. We were in constant prayer for God’s provisions and guidance on where [our daughter] would attend high school. For years, our plan had been for her to attend Pius X, but as the school year approached, we struggled not to worry about how we would afford it. God is clear that He will provide, and we should rely on Him. He commands us not to worry about tomorrow. Boy, did we get the opportunity to put that into practice! Or at least the opportunity to struggle with our humanness and fight with our minds to give it to God even when we want to hold onto the anxiety and worry.
As He always does, He provided. He provided for our need to provide [our child] with a Christ-centered education through your generosity. Pius X has been a place where [our daughter] has been able to see Christ exhibited in every aspect, in every class, and by all the teachers, as well as develop and share her love for God with the close friends she has made. She is actively involved in [a student leadership activity] and her favorite class is Theology, World Geography, Spanish, Art, and Differentiated Geometry…ok, they are all pretty fantastic and it is too hard for her to choose just one!
Thank you for being the hands of God! Without your generosity, we don’t know what we would have done. God is forever faithful. We are forever grateful to Him and to you!
– From a Grateful Pius X Family
