Chapel Cross Honors Memory of Young Alumnus

It was 1996 when freshmen Max Knoell ’00 and Matt Woodford ’00 became neighbors in Walther Hall.

They were involved in student senate together and Matt was an accomplished student-athlete. They took late-night breaks from studying and played Tetris quite competitively on the Nintendo. They quickly became best friends and eventually roommates in Hyatt Village their senior year.

Max fondly remembers the night he, his girlfriend (now wife) Amanda and Matt were doing homework on their laptops in Hyatt. Max received an instant message from Matt, who was sitting directly behind him, that said he’d just bought an engagement ring for his high-school sweetheart Lora (Wroge) Woodford ’01. Max turned around and Matt was smiling and shaking his head yes. A week later, Matt proposed to Lora and she said yes.

When Lora and Matt graduated, she began her teaching career and Matt entered graduate school to become a physician’s assistant. They married on Dec. 30, 2000 and gave birth to their first child Madalyn three years later. By December of 2004, Lora and Matt were expecting their second child.

On their four-year anniversary, Matt’s extended family was gathering at Matt’s brother Lucas’ house in Cedarburg, Wis. for Christmas. Travel conditions weren’t ideal. They were on the interstate when Matt hit a patch of ice and their car struck another vehicle. Matt was killed instantly. Their baby, Logan, who was due in June was also lost while 1-year-old Madalyn was in the backseat unharmed.

Max wanted to do something to keep Matt’s memory alive so he approached Concordia. The plans for the Graebner Memorial Chapel renovation and Cross of Christ Fellowship Center addition had just been unveiled. When Max saw the cross penciled on the outside of the chapel, he knew that was the ideal memorial. “That was perfect because Matt was so strong in his faith,” said Max.

Max wrote a letter to college friends, fellow church-goers and others Matt knew and asked for donations. “A lot of people wanted to do something (for Matt) but they didn’t know how,” said Max. “This gave them a way.” Eighteen donors helped Max surpass the fundraising goal by raising $12,000. The cedar cross was dedicated to Matt at the chapel dedication during homecoming 2007.

“I’m sincerely grateful to Max for his labor and love throughout this entire project,” said Lora. She continues to teach and raise Madalyn, now 4, in their Mayer, Minn. home. She said she keeps Matt’s memory alive through stories, shared photos and open dialogue. “Maddie proudly tells others that her daddy lives with Jesus in heaven and when Jesus says so, she will go to heaven too,” said Lora. “Maddie can confidently know that her daddy ran his race and met Jesus at the finish line.”

The love and support of others has sustained Lora through the most difficult times. “God has blessed us with an amazing support system of family and friends,” she said.

The experience has been a life-changing one for Max. “You tend to hug your wife and children a little bit more and a little bit longer and realize how quickly it can be taken away from you,” he said. “Obviously I’d rather have Matt here but given the circumstances, I’m glad we have a reminder of how good of a person he was. This gives something for Madalyn to look at and say, ‘That’s because of my dad.’”