In 1933 at age eight, Bill Fleck learned about LSSI while attending Sunday school at St. Simon’s Lutheran Church, Chicago. It was the Great Depression. His pastor spoke of orphans living at LSSI’s Nachusa Lutheran Home.

There were not enough beds for the kids. A congregation member purchased beds to help. St. Simon’s began supporting the home.

Then Fleck and his Sunday school classmates began collecting change to help the children there. For nine decades now, Fleck has supported LSSI. For his long-term commitment to LSSI, Fleck, a World War II Veteran and former LSSI Cornerstone Trustee, was honored with the True Friend Award at LSSI’s 41st Annual True Friend Celebration on Oct. 29.

Fleck has never been one to ask for material gifts for his birthdays. Instead, he asks people to make donations to LSSI. On his 95th birthday, that simple act raised $450 for LSSI’s ministries.

For over 20 years, Fleck hand-carved crosses from donated wood to pass out to people he meets at church or the doctor’s office—wherever his journey takes him. He carved over 6,000 crosses by hand over the years.

“I put my late wife’s confirmation verse on the back,” he said of the crosses. “Let your light shine. Let them see your good works, and praise your cross in heaven.”