The Masonic MessengerIowa Masonic 2500 Grant

St. Bettendorf, Iowa2/1/2018 iowamasonic.com

563-359-9171

Iowa

Independent Living

Rehabilitative Care

Long-term Care Respite Care Hospice Care Memory Care

Iowa Masonic has been committed to meeting the needs of residents in the

Bettendorf and surrounding communities for 90 years.

We continue to provide the expertise, compassion, and

commitment our residents and families have come to

expect and deserve.

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Greetings from Cris I would like to start out this month by thanking each of you that reached out and expressed your sympathy to my family during the loss of my mother in law. Knowing you have people that are thinking of you and praying for you does truly bring comfort during those times.

It is now with a very grateful heart I write this last article for the Masonic Messenger. I will leave this campus with many fond memories and great laughs, (Dawn, maybe you can get the new Administrator to let you have your chickens in the villa)! We never know how things will change or what the future holds, but I was so fortunate to be able to work beside some of the best and most professional caregivers in the Quad Cities. While managers are not supposed to cross the line into friendships with their co-workers, I consider myself very blessed to be taking away some wonderful friendships I know will continue long into the future.

I am honored to have been a part of the lives of the staff and residents/families these past two years. To all those who extended their unwavering support of me as your Administrator, I thank you. You will never know how much that meant to me.

The Trustees are continuing their search to find a new Administrator. It is important for them and you that a thorough search is conducted to get the right fit. Stay tuned to the newsletter for updates.

I wish you all and Iowa Masonic the very best in the future. I might not be in the leader’s seat, but know I will be watching from afar and cheering for your success always. With

February DatesGroundhog Day 2nd

Wear Red Day 2nd

Superbowl LII 4th

Olympic Winter Games XXIII Opening Ceremony & Games 9th – 25th

Random Acts of Kindness Week 11th – 17th

Mardi Gras 13th

Ash Wednesday 14th

Valentines Day 14th

Presidents’ Day 19th

American Heart Month

Black History Month

Celebration of Chocolate Month

Expect Success Month

Heart Healthy Month

Senior Independence Month

Proceeds to benefit Team Masonic for the Alzheimer’s Association

Annual FundraiserDate: Friday February 16th

Time: 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.Place: Community Center

R.S.V.P. to participate in the Cookoff! 359-9171

VioletThe flower of the month. The violet symbolizes faithfulness, humility, wisdom, hope and chastity. When a person gave violets as a gift in the Victorian era, the message it sent was “I’ll always be true.”

Families are always welcome to join us at activities! We would love to have you!

We need craft supplies! Contact the Activity Dept. with donations. Thank you!

Wear Red Day February 2nd

www.goredforwomen.orgThe American Heart Association

encourages people to wear red today. Show support for women who have been

affected by cardiovascular disease.

“There is no remedy for love

but to love more.”

Henry David Thoreau

Groundhog Day February 2nd

(Phil even has his own website!)

www.groundhog.org

The legend is that if the groundhog sees his

shadow after coming out of his hole, there

will be six more weeks of winter and a bad growing season to

follow. If it is cloudy and the groundhog

does not see his shadow, there will be

at Iowa Masonic

Welcome Rebecca Wiley, Social Worker Care Coordinator.

Career Opportunities at Iowa Masonic

We currently have the following positions available: Maintenance, RN, LPN, CMA, and CNA. Also, don’t

forget, we currently have a sign-on bonus for nurses! If you know someone looking for a new career

opportunity, share with them about our opportunities here at Iowa Masonic.

CONGRATULATIONS Congratulations to the January Employee of the Month,

Chrissy Connelly! Employees of the month receive a $25 gift-card, & a 10 meal punch pass for meals at Iowa

Masonic. Congratulations!

CHOOSE OUR THERAPY TEAM

Iowa Masonic offers exceptional Rehabilitation Services, including Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy. Following a hospitalization or surgery, you may find yourself in need of ‘rehab’ or therapy services before going home. A physician will write orders for the therapy services recommended, and it is your choice who you choose as a provider. Iowa Masonic is known for its excellent therapy team and compassionate, quality care. Remember to call us if you anticipate a hospitalization or need for therapy services; we will be happy to meet with you to discuss how we may help you meet your therapy goals and regain your strength.

For our friends living in our villas at Masonic Village, remember that Iowa Masonic offers short term therapy services in our facility located conveniently on our property, as well as in-home physical, occupational,

Happy Valentine’s Day

By E.E. Cummings

Love StoriesEveryone has a story. This month we asked our team members and residents to share with us a little glimpse into their story … how they met their significant others. Take a moment to share a bit of your love story with others this month. And take a moment to ask others about their story!

Buel & Mary W.~ My fraternity had a yearly dance at the House (band & all). Our dance in 1950 was typical; you invite a girl that was special. I invited Nel Haxby & my good friend Bob Todd invited Mary Dickman. At the dance that night Bob & I traded partners. Mary & I were married the next spring when we both had graduated. Bob was in our wedding party. The day after our wedding, a family friend invited us to dinner at the Des Moines Club. The waiter brought a phone to Mary indicating the call was for Mary. She picked up and was connected to my mother in Tokyo, Japan. This was their 1st chance to talk, April 1951. My mother was with my father who was on MacArthur’s staff.

Bob & Linda G.~ We met at a club for tall people in Cleveland, Ohio! Bowling, dances & other activities. I took Linda to a family gathering & they approved of her. Then we went to Iowa to meet her family. After almost a year of dating we tied the knot! February 23rd we will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. After nine years of marriage we were blessed with a son, James.

Ray & Jane I.~ We met in the back of a cattle truck we were riding on the way to detassling! We have been married 59 years. Ray was in the Army & Jane had just graduated from nursing school, & we got married on Labor Day in 1959. Our wedding lunch was a potluck.

Maxine & Ken D. ~ Ken & I met February 13, 1971 at a Singletons’ Valentines party at O’Melia’s Supper Club in Rock Island, Illinois. Red & white paper hearts were cut in half creating jagged edges. The men were given the white half & the ladies the red half. The ladies stood in line holding up their half heart & the men had to match their half heart with the ladies. Ken walked up to me and said, “You have my heart,” and that was it! We dated, had lots of conversations, & in the course of one of our conversations Ken said his apartment lease was up March 1st, and asked if he could move in with me. I said, “Not unless you marry me.” The rest is history! We married 13 days later on February 26, 1971. We enjoyed a wonderful, loving, memorable life together, 43 years, 10 months. Ken died December 6, 2014. The beautiful memories linger on!

Carm & Ken R. ~ I met the soldier, who was to become my husband for about 65 years, at a dance at NW Turners Hall in January 1945. He was home on leave & his family was from McCausland, Iowa, a small town north of Davenport. My love story came to an end when my husband passed away in September 2011. He left me, plus 3 wonderful children & their families, & he is still missed every day.

Larry & Carol S. ~ Carols’ friend Kathy & Larry’s friend Marilyn worked at the Hawkeye Bookstore in Iowa City (1962). They decided to get we two together for a blind date ~ Carol’s ONE & ONLY blind date! Eleven months later, on a VERY hot June day, we were married. We’ve been blessed with 54 ½ happy years of marriage, 2 great grandchildren, & 4 great grandchildren. As they say, it has been a great run!

Jenna K. ~ I was 15, he was 19. My mom told me he was too old for me so we cut ties. Nine years later I contacted him & we agreed to meet up. Now we have been dating almost a year. He waited 9 years for me. His last name is Romeo, so everyone calls us Romeo & Jenna.

Jim & Mary Lu ~ We met via Social Media (i.e. the OLDE kind, a newspaper ad) back in 1980. We were both divorced single parents with two (2) children each. Our first date, & first meeting, was when Jim drove to my house to meet me, my folks & my kids. Because he was financially strapped from his divorce and child support, he showed up at my place in a derelict old hand-me-down car and some hand-me-down old clothes, consisting of an early 1970’s big-lapeled melon colored shirt and some plaid 1970’s melon-brown-tan pants. (He could not yet afford his signature BIB overalls). As he walked across the street to my house, my Dad, who was looking out the front window said, “here he comes and boy is he is a big one.”. Things went fine, here we are 38 years later at the Masonic Village, and as you well know, every day is an adventure with Jim.

Jerry & Janet~ We had a 12-day courtship! I was working for NW Bell Telephone Company, & Janet’s sister Vivian also worked there. She invited me to a bowling party, & little did I know that she brought her little sister along with her. When I saw Janet, there was a glow all around her. So we talked for awhile, & I finally got up the nerve to ask for a date. I said, “I’ll tell you up front, I don’t like to dance.” She said, “me either.” I told her “I like to go to movies” & she said, “I do too.” So for the next 10 nights we went to a movie every night. We talked and talked and talked those 10 nights, about our aspirations, where we were from, what we had in common, & where we were going. We grew together. Then on the 11th day said she couldn’t go out with me because she had made a previous date with another guy that she had to honor. I learned her date was with a doctor, & I thought “u oh! I’m just a little telephone guy ~ I’m going to have to make my move.” The next night on the 12th night, she was back with me. After we talked for awhile, I told her I love you and she said I love you too. I said, “Do you love me enough to marry me?”, and she said yes. We were married January 29th, 1954, right after my 9 weeks of basic training.

Dawn & Dick (1st husband) ~ I did his mother’s hair. She said no one wrote to him. He was in North Africa in the Air Force. We wrote a few months, & when he came home he asked me to marry him while waiting for a train at 4th Street. We were married 13 years & had 3 daughters. Dawn & Larry (2nd husband) ~ He had asked a few times before I would go out with him. We were married at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. Larry adopted my 3 daughters when they were in their 30’s. He asked me to marry him while watching “Kojak.” We were married 35 years.

Evelyn & Paul ~ I was at Camp Dodge flying field for a flying lesson where Paul (my husband to be) was with his brother. He recognized me & he introduced us. I then belonged to a flying club when I worked at Solar Aircraft Company in Des Moines as a secretary. We celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary here at Masonic Village on April 24th, 2004.

Bill & Betty T. ~ We met at homeroom 204 at John Deere Jr. High School, age 11 (her sister & my sister were close friends ~ they were the matchmakers). She waited for me after being separated for service, and we married one year later. We celebrated our 68th anniversary, had 5 children, 6 grandchildren, & 8 great grandchildren & counting! Dave O. ~ The Lord brought us together through a prayer meeting at our church. I could see my wife’s compassionate, loving heart when I looked into her eyes for the first time, & I continue to fall in love with her more & more every day when I see that same compassion here at Iowa Masonic.

Lorelei M. ~ We actually met for the 1st time when I was 14, & then actually about 4-5 more times before meeting 12 years later. We met then through my best friend of 25 years, her older sisters’ other half’s best friend😊. We hit it off from day 1, & 2 weeks later we went on our 1st date!

Amy W. ~ We were set up on a blind date in 1993! My future husband was a 20 year old Navy boy stationed at Great Lakes Naval Base. He came home one weekend with one of his buddies who lived in Davenport, who was dating one of my good friends. They broke up, & Gerry & I stayed together. We will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary in March!

Happy Birthday To

You Delores 6th

Jim 5th

Roberta 6th Liz 14th Bev 17th Ray 28th

Catholic Communion

AvailableIf you are interested in receiving a visit and communion from the Parishoners at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, please contact Amy. Volunteers from the church bring communion weekly to Iowa Masonic and would love to offer that service to any

interested Masonic Village residents.

Resident Information

FormsRemember to update your

resident information forms

and turn them back in to Amy as soon as possible!

If no update is needed, simply notify Amy to

make note of that. Thank you!

Masonic Village Board

The Masonic Village Board of

Representatives meets quarterly with the Board of Trustees

of Iowa Masonic (March, June, September, &

December). Current 2018 Masonic Village

Association

Representatives are listed below: Jim

Stewart, President, Sharon Masterson, Vice President, & Mary Lu Stewart,

Treasurer.

February Village

ActivitiesLodge Breakfast 3rd

7:30

Lodge Dinner 6 th 6:00

CASI Foot Clinic 7 th

12:30

Birthday Party 9 th 1:00

Pizza Luncheon for Cris 13 th at NOON

Chili Cookoff 16 th

10:30-1

Dinner at Machine Shed 21st at 4:30

Happy ½ Hour 4:15 & 5:00 Catered Dinner

28 th

Church Services

Non-denominational

INDEPENDENT LIVING AT MASONIC VILLAGE

Church Services Sundays 1:30

Catholic Communion Sundays 1:30

(except 3rd Sunday)

Catholic Mass3rd Wednesday 9:30

Masonic Trivia

The Grand Lodge of Masons in Iowa purchased the mansion, contents & grounds in 1925, with the intent to offer a hospital for Master Masons, their wives and widows. While Masonic affiliation is no longer required, Iowa Masonic remains under the ownership and jurisdiction of the Masonic Organization, and is governed by five appointed board members.

Funnybone

February 3rd – 9th Annual Dump Your Significant Jerk Week

February 9th Read in the Bathtub Day

February 17th Vacuum Your Cat Day

February 23 Single-Tasking Day

February 28th Public Sleeping Day

Celebrate Superbowl

Sunday February 4th

www.nfl.com &

IN THE KNOW – SOCIAL MEDIA

Check out our FACEBOOK PAGE at Iowa Masonic Health Facilities! “Like” & “Share” our posts to help us increase awareness & interest in our retirement

community!

“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” John F. Kennedy

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

“The future starts today, not tomorrow.” Pope John Paul II

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Abraham Lincoln

”An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Benjamin Franklin

“Character is a journey, not a destination.” Bill Clinton

“It is better to be alone than in bad company.”

Iowa MasonicCompassion. Commitment.

Community.

A Retirement Community Where Everyone Is Welcome!

Newsletters Printed paper copies of The Masonic Messenger are available at the front desk at any time. You may also refer to our website for the most recent newsletter, or you may contact Amy Wiyrick at awiyrick@iowamasonic.com to request a copy be emailed to you.

Volunteers WantedWe are looking for compassionate, fun, committed volunteers to make a difference in the lives of our residents! Helping residents on shopping trips, doing crafts & playing games, downloading music onto iPods, and visiting are just a few of the ways you can volunteer. Please contact Chris Stickfort in the Activity Department to volunteer!

Our Management TeamVetter Executive Director Deann Milefchik Director of Human

ResourcesCris Vetter Executive Director Deann Milefchik Director of Human ResourcesDr. Kevin Blechle Medical Director Chad Lehman AccountantDan Murphy Pharmacist Chris Stickfort Activity DirectorDenise Mayfield Consulting Dietician Lori Osborn Social Services DirectorJodi Hippler Director of Nursing Cathy Youngblood Director of Dietary ServicesHeather Thompson Asst Director of Nursing Rebecca Wiley Social

“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” John F. Kennedy

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

“The future starts today, not tomorrow.” Pope John Paul II

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Abraham Lincoln

”An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Benjamin Franklin

“Character is a journey, not a destination.” Bill Clinton

“It is better to be alone than in bad company.”