2. Beginnings What started out as a last semester college elective Course at Kansas State University in 1980, became a full blown ‘third job’ for Anita and myself after we were married in May of 1981. After learning the craft, and creating one each of the traditional lead came panel, and Tiffany’s copper foil method, that were both abstract designs, I did three small, very crude, pieces as gifts for the groomsmen in our wedding. The summer after we were married, I taught Anita the craft, and we created our first panel as a team (see intro piece), a stock design, with Anita’s choices of colors and glass types. Anita also took classes from a local glass shop in Dodge City, KS, “Winda Stains” from Stephanie Bradie. After that, we got our first commission, a entry door sidelight panel. Then, by word of mouth, and little advertising, we grew and fluctuated from a hobby into a side line business. We did do craft fairs, and had items in consignment shops. We would set up our displays, and in order to draw more attention, we would do custom engraving on site. This worked really well around Valentines Day, Christmas, and other holidays. The engraving talent grew, and before we knew it, we were doing wedding invitations. Our last, largest project, was the Margarie Ousley Memorial Window for Christ Church Episcopal, in Rolla, MO, completed in 1990. The original concept was designed by my late father, John W. Koenig in 1984. Anita and I reworked the design to work in glass. The design was also modified late in the game to work in the memorial inscription at the bottom of the panel. In 2004, the window was relocated from the old Columbarium to the new one, when the new addition was built.
39. The Margerie A. Ousley Memorial Window Christ Church Episcopal Columbarium Rolla, MO Given by husband Edward and daughters Linda and Patricia September, 1990 Relocated in 2004