Ked Dejmal spent most of his 83 years personifying good stewardship and generosity. No wonder he left a deep legacy as an Everence stewardship advocate at his church, Eugene Friends Meeting.
Family and career
Born in Nebraska in 1934, his family moved to Oregon when he was seven, where he eventually pursued a degree in education, completing his masters at Eastern Oregon State University.
He taught science for 30 years. He married Nina, and they enjoyed over 50 years of marriage before she passed in 2014. Together, they raised three children to have a strong relationship with Christ.
Ked’s daughter Lynette remembers growing up with a calm yet tough father. “My dad had high expectations because he knew you could live up to them. He demanded a lot, expected a lot and taught us to do a lot.”
In his spare time, Ked loved woodworking, keeping honeybees and making candles from the bees’ wax. After retiring, he did volunteer work and traveled to South America and Mexico.
“Behind-the-scenes” giver and advocate
Ked was an extremely generous giver but a “behind-the-scenes” one. He donated his wheat crop money, matched what others would give and gave many loans over the years. He encouraged financial stability and good stewardship in those he helped.
Naturally, it was fitting when he assumed the role of a Stewardship Advocate at Eugene Friends Meeting in Eugene, Oregon, 22 years ago.
As advocate, he helped his church donate $155,000 with assistance from 144 Everence Sharing Fund grants. A true proponent of education, he helped college-bound students apply for Everence scholarships. He was instrumental in one student from his church receiving the top scholarship of $3,000. (In photo above from left, Everence Stewardship Consultant Rhoda Blough, Ked with Cassie Hwa, the student who received scholarship, and Lynne Lakin, Cassie's grandmother.)
He also supported several missions with Everence grant funds. Even when his beloved wife Nina passed on four years ago, he never stopped helping people.
“He really missed my mom, but he kept going and kept giving,” Lynette said. “He was pretty fantastic. Everyone who knew him was blessed.”
Leaving a legacy
Sadly, Ked passed unexpectedly in March of this year, a few days before the Everence Stewardship Leaders Appreciation Celebration in nearby Salem, Oregon.
“When I shared about his passing at the celebration, many other advocates remembered him,” said Rhoda Blough, his Stewardship Consultant with Everence. “He was an inspiration.”
Ked’s daughter Sheri explained that’s just who he was. “I know he probably wouldn’t want a lot of kudos. He really enjoyed meeting different people and seeing the difference that budgeting and giving would make,” she said. “He spoke very highly of what Everence tries to do.”
Learn more about the valuable role of stewardship advocates in churches and meetings.