Doctor Revises Estate Plan for UW ‘Payback’

Some donors contribute to the University of Wisconsin-Madison with cash, some use appreciated securities, some use real estate. It’s rather unusual to do all three. But Dr. Joe Mnuk has an unusual story—how he wound up at the UW-Madison in the first place and how he and his wife, Julie, decided to revise their estate plans and give back.

Joe initially grew up in Texas but moved around as his father was transferred every few years. He completed high school in Wisconsin and finances were slim. The only viable option was a state school.

“Little did I know what a bargain I was getting!” Joe exclaimed. “If you had to describe a state school with all the good aspects of it—a vibrant setting, multinational student body and course offerings that are just endless—you might mention Berkeley, the University of Michigan, probably UT Austin. And that’s exactly what I got at the UW. I can’t believe I was lucky enough to be in a place with such intellectual stimulation.”

Joe earned an undergraduate degree in history in 1976 and then went straight to medical school. “I applied to quite a few places, but once I got my acceptance to the UW, it was case closed,” Joe said.

He trained as an interventional cardiologist; when people have a heart attack and are rushed to the hospital, he’s the one called. Feeling lured to his native west, Joe practiced in New Mexico for 20 years but moved back five years ago. Shortly after arriving in Madison, Julie was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and underwent surgery and chemotherapy through the UW-Madison.

“I can’t tell you how happy I was to be back at a center that had a very strong oncology program,” Joe said. “I felt so confident about her care. We were blessed to be in this place.”

“They were very good to work with—responsive, flexible, informative. We had our accountant involved and our financial planner involved and the foundation involved, and it went smoothly.”

Dr. Joe Mnuk

Still in private practice in Madison, Joe said that about a year ago he came into a “large windfall” through his business. “We already had written into our will a substantial donation to the UW, but when this came through we thought we should make the donation now,” Joe explained. He met with the University of Wisconsin Foundation and structured a gift that includes cash, appreciated securities and real estate—a retained life estate gift so that the Mnuks remain in their home for the rest of their lives.

“They were very good to work with—responsive, flexible, informative,” Joe said. “We had our accountant involved and our financial planner involved and the foundation involved, and it went smoothly.”

Joe encourages other alumni to contact the foundation. “This is a field that most of us have no expertise in,” he said. “If you have questions, contacting the foundation is helpful and does not obligate you to anything. Lay out your wishes, needs and ultimate goals, and they can come up with something that fulfills those needs.”

The Mnuks’ total gift is more than a million dollars. Joe says he is glad to give it. “It’s payback,” he said. “The prosperity and the blessings that my family have are derived from my education.”

Very much into outdoor activities, Joe and Julie run or bike through the campus almost every day. He said he is impressed with the new facilities from when he was in school, including the hospital and medical school.

“There’s a reason Madison has been ranked as the best place to live in the United States several times in the last 20 years,” Joe said. “We’re grateful to be back and to give back.”