Meet Scott Risse

Volunteer highlight: Volunteer highlight: Scott Risse Scott Risse

From team member to volunteer From team member to volunteer

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To learn more about Cedar Community’s volunteer program, contact Bonnie Amerling, volunteer program, contact Bonnie Amerling, volunteer coordinator, at 262.306.4218.

For 30 years Scott Risse worked at Cedar For 30 years Scott Risse worked at Cedar Community as grounds and eet manager. In Community as grounds and eet manager. In this role he managed the team that takes care of this role he managed the team that takes care of all exterior building and grounds maintenance, all exterior building and grounds maintenance, landscaping, snow removal, and care of the lake landscaping, snow removal, and care of the lake frontage—including pontoon boats and piers. When frontage—including pontoon boats and piers. When things slowed down outside in winter months, he things slowed down outside in winter months, he often helped inside with construction projects. Scott often helped inside with construction projects. Scott enjoyed the close-knit Cedar Community family, the enjoyed the close-knit Cedar Community family, the friendly team, and most of all, working with residents. friendly team, and most of all, working with residents.

With an easy smile and a helping hand, Scott With an easy smile and a helping hand, Scott knew he wanted to become a Cedar Community knew he wanted to become a Cedar Community volunteer in retirement—and didn’t waste any time volunteer in retirement—and didn’t waste any time getting involved. getting involved. “I knew I always wanted to give “I knew I always wanted to give back and since I took care of the boats all those years, back and since I took care of the boats all those years, it was nally nice to enjoy a leisurely ride around the it was nally nice to enjoy a leisurely ride around the lake, taking residents out, and seeing the joy on their lake, taking residents out, and seeing the joy on their faces,” says Scott. Dave Braby and Keith Ruesch, faces,” says Scott. Dave Braby and Keith Ruesch, independent living residents who worked very closely independent living residents who worked very closely with Scott spending many, many hours working the with Scott spending many, many hours working the trails and landscaping around the campus, recruited trails and landscaping around the campus, recruited Scott to help them with training boat drivers as well. Scott to help them with training boat drivers as well. “I enjoyed coming back and working with them since “I enjoyed coming back and working with them since they did so much for me when I was here,” they did so much for me when I was here,” says Scott. says Scott. “Scott is truly a special person. He always gives from “Scott is truly a special person. He always gives from the heart and is a friend to all. He is there to lend a the heart and is a friend to all. He is there to lend a helping hand and teach others the skill and talents he helping hand and teach others the skill and talents he has learned over the years at Cedar Community. We are has learned over the years at Cedar Community. We are so fortunate he came back to volunteer,” says Bonnie so fortunate he came back to volunteer,” says Bonnie Amerling, volunteer coordinator. Amerling, volunteer coordinator.

Scott retired in 2021, and along with his wife, Scott retired in 2021, and along with his wife, Sue, who is also retired, they enjoy family camping Sue, who is also retired, they enjoy family camping excursions with their two daughters, one son, their excursions with their two daughters, one son, their spouses, and four grandsons. spouses, and four grandsons. “We start camping in “We start camping in May and go through October. I enjoy getting away May and go through October. I enjoy getting away from it all, relaxing, and getting out to bike, kayak, and from it all, relaxing, and getting out to bike, kayak, and hike,” hike,” says Scott. He also likes woodworking, which says Scott. He also likes woodworking, which is why he also enjoyed being the Cedar Community is why he also enjoyed being the Cedar Community Woodwork Shop manager. He made his own kitchen Woodwork Shop manager. He made his own kitchen cabinets, builds furniture, and helped build a house cabinets, builds furniture, and helped build a house in northern Wisconsin for one of his son’s best in northern Wisconsin for one of his son’s best friends. Hunting and babysitting for his two youngest friends. Hunting and babysitting for his two youngest grandchildren also ll Scott’s schedule. grandchildren also ll Scott’s schedule. “It’s funny how “It’s funny how busy you get in retirement. I don’t have enough time for busy you get in retirement. I don’t have enough time for anything anymore,” anything anymore,” laughs Scott. laughs Scott.

While he enjoys sleeping in a bit and doesn’t miss While he enjoys sleeping in a bit and doesn’t miss those 3 a.m. mornings of snowplowing, Scott has those 3 a.m. mornings of snowplowing, Scott has not looked back and is de nitely enjoying all that not looked back and is de nitely enjoying all that retirement has brought him—including more time retirement has brought him—including more time with his family and more traveling. “Time just keeps with his family and more traveling. “Time just keeps ying by and there is so much I want to do yet,” says ying by and there is so much I want to do yet,” says Scott. Returning to Cedar Community in 2023 as a Scott. Returning to Cedar Community in 2023 as a boat skipper and trainer continues to be on his list. boat skipper and trainer continues to be on his list.

Resident pro le: Carl and Diane Holter

BY: Gladys Sachse Resident, Cedar Community Independent Living

It’s a love story that began with lunch. It was at a Cedar Community Christmas luncheon when Carl Holter and Diane Yarmark, both new independent living home residents, found vacant seats next to each other. Love at rst sight? It just might have been. It was an instant attraction and an answer to their long-time prayers. The story reads like a Hallmark movie script—a time of struggle, grief, and di culty resulting with a happy ending—sharing their new life together.

Carl’s story

Carl was born in Hatton, North Dakota, the seventh in a family of eight children. He helped on the family farm. After high school he attended a trade school to learn industrial drafting. Those plans changed when he was drafted into the Army, serving from 1964-66. After an honorable discharge, he attended North Dakota State University and received a degree in mechanical engineering. He married Jan HumeHolter in 1967 and together they had three children and seven grandchildren. After college, Carl worked as design engineer at FMC Corp in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Harnischfeger and Kearney & Trecker in Milwaukee; and ABB Robotics in New Berlin. He began his own independent consulting rm, Puzzleworks Consulting, in 2000 until 2016. Jan passed away in 2017 after 50 years of marriage.

As a child, Carl was always building and xing things— especially on the farm. Through the years, he obtained seven patents. His rst was a crane design—he built the prototype in his basement the weekend prior to the design presentation. His most recent invention was the pill popper that was featured in the summer 2022 Live More magazine.

Over the years, Carl has traveled to many states and countries including Alaska, Australia, Thailand, Mexico, Canada, and Europe—including 14 cruises. In his home, he enjoys woodworking and has a unique collection and photos of wood pieces and furniture he created. He also enjoys photography and hiking.

Diane’s story

Diane was born in Milwaukee, the youngest of four children. Upon nishing high school, she was hired at Cutler-Hammer, now Eaton Corp. Within two weeks she was promoted to executive secretary for the comptroller and technical advisor. After four years of working, Diane married and was blessed with two children and now a grandson. She left the o ce to be a homemaker while also taking care of clerical duties for her husband’s business—they had a farm in the Town of Trenton. It was a great learning experience and a wonderful place to raise a family. Their menagerie included every farm animal except pigs and sheep. Diane’s favorite were the goats—so lovable and silly. As the children grew she was involved in their school, organizing the school library and continuing as the school librarian. During that time she also volunteered as the church secretary one to two days a week for 17 years.

After becoming single several years ago, Diane became quite involved with community volunteerism, working with

organizations like the Family Center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Washington County, and United Cerebral Palsy. Additionally, she served as a teacher’s aide at her church’s school and she volunteered at Froedtert Hospital. Now, with Carl by her side, Diane continues to mentor her little sister match of eight years—which is a very rewarding experience.

Diane also enjoys traveling and has traveled to many states including Alaska and Hawaii, and internationally to Switzerland, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. She has also taken a mission trip to Bolivia and spent an adventurous week living on a sailboat exploring the beauty of the British Virgin Islands with four other people who had never met. During that trip she enjoyed the thrill of parasailing—in spite of her fear of heights.

When it was time to simplify her life from the responsibilities of home ownership and maintenance—she wanted to have more time for travel and socializing—Diane sold her home on three acres near Kewaskum and moved to Cedar Community in 2021.

That same year, Carl, whom she had never met, sold his home in Jackson and also moved to Cedar Community.

The love story begins

In an answer to prayers for companionship and love—Carl and Diane met at the Christmas luncheon and found they have many things in common, including their strong faith and trust in God. Within six weeks of meeting, they knew God wanted them to be together and they exchanged commitment rings. They were o cially engaged at sunrise on Lake Michigan in September of 2022 and were married on October 16, 2022. Their shared interests include nature walks, walking on beaches looking for ice formations and unusual pieces of wood for his woodworking hobby, sharing his interest in photography, watching beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and their love of nature and the great outdoors. Cedar Community’s 245 acres of woods and trails are a perfect place to share those times.

Carl and Diane look forward to traveling in the United States to so many places they have never been and are excited to nd out what else God has in store for them—together!

Students o er solutions for workday relief

The assignment

West Bend East and West High School seniors Gianna Hemauer, Owen Kolkema, Alex Lance, Monique Schnabel, Erica Thill, and Jake Williams are all enrolled in Patty Noonan’s Biomedical Innovations course. The group was tasked with the mission to redesign a healthcare space to improve its function, make it more e cient, and increase safety. This capstone assignment serves as the culminationof four years of academic and experiential learning for students who have been given the opportunity to gain hands-on and problem-solving experiences not available in traditional science courses.

The background story

As a certi ed nursing assistant working at Cedar Community, Erica Thill experienced rsthand the stressors of caring for people as a medical professional—especially during the pandemic. She suggested the group take on the challenge of creating and designing a “cool down” room where team members could decompress, relax, and rejuvenate during breaks or after work.

The design

The design proposal addressed the following questions: Would team members utilize the space? What should be in the room? What is the budget for the project? Ideas included massage chairs, foot massagers, nature-related items (pictures, plants, sound machine, etc.), comfortable furniture/ places to rest, dim lights, snacks/drinks, television, fridge, foosball and ping pong tables, and even pods for a quick nap and refresh. The room is divided into two spaces—one for games and activities—the other for relaxation and rest.

The process

Students met with Cedar Community team members via Zoom for their initial contact and to brainstorm ideas for the assignment. Members from Cedar Community’s human resources and nursing divisions provided input and guidance on budgeting, as well as available space and additional relaxation ideas. Students shared their presentation and three-dimensional model with Cedar Community team members in November.

“Cedar Community appreciates the opportunity to provide students with an experiential learning activity that addresses real-world challenges. This project will empower them to gain the additional skills they need to pursue a career in the medical field, and help them thrive in their future endeavors,” says Jen Fullhart, director of assisted living.