Emporia Community Matters May 2017

Commun ty Matters Emporia Presbyterian Manor

May 2017

Presbyterian Manor announces featured artist for May 2017 Our featured artist of the month is resident Nona Thompson. Nona paints beautiful landscapes and flowers. Please join us from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24, for a reception to honor her and her work.

Taking pride in Memorial Day Every May, we honor those who have died in American wars in the service of their country. On Memorial Day, many residents and staff at Emporia Presbyterian Manor also will take time to remember the veterans in their families who have died.

Nona took the blue ribbon at the Osage County Fair in the 1990s with this watercolor still life of calla lilies.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. It began in May 1868 to honor those who died fighting in the Civil War. After World War I, the observance was extended to all American servicemen and women who have died in battle. Congress declared it a national holiday in 1971.

Our staff and residents take tremendous pride in the service of their loved ones who are no longer with us. Here are some of those who will be remembered this holiday by members of our community.

Resident Doris Brawner and her daughter, Beverly Long, remember Beverly’s dad and stepfather.

• Nathan Eugene “Mike” Kolbo served in the U.S. Army in World War II and Korea. Died Dec. 15, 2014. Mike and Doris were married 19371976.

• Donald Eugene Brawner Sr. served in the U.S. Navy’s submarine division in World War II. Died April 12, 2002. Don and Doris were married from 1978 to 1987.

“Old Mill” is a watercolor Nona painted in 1984.

MEMORIAL, continued on page 2

MEMORIAL, continued from page 1

“They were upstanding men who served their country with honor and pride,” Beverly said. “My dad was a career military man, and after his service he did advocacy work for veterans’ benefits. He served alongside Dwight D. Eisenhower.

That is his claim to fame!”

Resident Sandy Caler and her daughter, Susan Daniel-Brey, remember their husband and stepfather, Albert Caler. Albert served in the Army Air Corps during World War II as a sergeant and a quartermaster. Susan tells us that his photo with his brother, Wayne Caler, is hanging in Sandy’s room, along with the flag from his

Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Emporia Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.

Susan Siepelmeier, executive director Crystal Stock, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Crystal Stock, marketing director, cstock@pmma.org.

Telephone: 620-343-2613 Fax: 620-343-9195 Address: 2300 Industrial Rd., Emporia, KS 66801-6636 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

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Community Matters May 2017

memorial service. Susan also has his uniform and pins. “My mother is very proud, as am I,” Susan said.

Resident Joyce Stolfus remembers her husband, Leroy Stolfus, who died in 2014. In 1943, he joined the Merchant Marines, which merged with the Navy during World War II. He served until 1945, then entered the Army in 1946. He joined the Army Reserve in April 1947 and retired in 1980 after nearly 40 years of military service. Leroy was also department commander of the American Legion of Kansas and national vice commander for the American Legion. Last fall, Joyce and her family donated a flag to Emporia Presbyterian Manor in her late husband’s name, and they set up a trust to keep the flag flying in excellent condition.

Maria Lane, social services director for Emporia Presbyterian Manor, is the mother of Army Spc. David Lane, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2007. Maria is active in the American Gold Star Mothers organization and

the Tablets of Honor campaign at the All Veterans Memorial. Maria’s father, Donald Davis, was an Army journalist during World War II. Resident Elaine Edwards and her son, Marc Edwards, remember their husband and father, Charles F. Edwards. Charles served in the Korean War. Resident Twila Berry and her daughter, Sheila Berry (Sherry), honor their husband and father, Duane Berry.

Resident Dorothy Kramer and her daughter, Susan Menke, honor their husband and father, Floyd Kramer.

Resident Ester Eusey’s husband, Don Hansen, served in the Air Force.

Resident Dorothy Parsons’s husband, John Parsons, served in the Army.

Resident Alvina Laib’s husband, Arthur Laib, served in the Army.

PATH resident Zelda Gifford’s husband, Carl Keith Gifford, served in the Army.

Learn how to rightsize your household for a move Life is much simpler when we have just what we need, and no more. But it can be an overwhelming task to sort through lifelong belongings for a move or a transition. This month, join Emporia Presbyterian Manor for guidance on “rightsizing” your household with organization expert Hollie Blakeney, owner of NIMBLE, a Lawrence-based firm that offers senior downsizing and aging in place design services.

Hollie is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist and an experienced space planner with years of moving and relocation experience.

Join us at 11 a.m. on May 26 in Room 110 for this free session to help you organize for a move and plan your new space. For more information, call Crystal Stock, marketing director, at 620-343-2613.

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Wellness is a way of life at Emporia Presbyterian Manor As we age, staying active is the key to independence and well-being — perhaps more than most other times in our life.

A New Zealand study cited by the Centers for Disease Control found that women 80 and older who did strength and balance training had 40 percent fewer falls. Strength training has also been found to increase bone density and lower the risk of fracture in women older than 50. Exercise also has positive effects on depression that are similar to results with antidepressant medication. Similarly, even gentle exercise can reduce pain and

Socializing is great for wellness. Here, Marcia Taylor leads a sing-along in the dining room.

inflammation by increasing blood flow to areas that hurt, promoting healing.

The health and wellness of our residents at Emporia Presbyterian Manor is at the forefront of our commitment to advocating for seniors – the way you want to live! Wellness takes many forms; here are just a few ways we support them all.

Exercise Residents have many choices for staying active so they can continue to do the things they love. Group exercise classes are held most days in the chapel for our independent and assisted living residents, including chair yoga. We also play fun versions of sports like noodle ball – volleyball Like us on Facebook

played with balloons and pool noodles!

For fitness and fresh air, it’s a treat to stroll the grounds of our 20-acre campus, which includes a scenic fishing pond. When the Kansas weather doesn’t cooperate, many residents enjoy walking the halls of our large campus, and our wellness center has a Nustep trainer and stationary bikes, too.

Executive Director Susan Siepelmeier invites residents for “Tea and Laughs” every month.

his team monthly Men’s Our walking path is a popular way for residents to gethost theirthe exercise.

Health care and memory care residents can choose to join our sittercize classes and fun activities like noodle ball.

Breakfast for the gentlemen to gather and discuss everything from politics to farming, their life experiences and more.

Emotional and mental wellbeing

We also promote spiritual health by offering a variety of worship services and bible studies in our chapel.

Our culture is very social at Presbyterian Manor. We believe spending time with others goes a long way to improving our state of mind and building a sense of community that supports overall wellness.

Executive Director Susan Siepelmeier hosts a Tea and Laughs get-together every month to have refreshments with residents and tell jokes for an hour. Claude Williamson, environmental services director, and

“I feel we have a happy, upbeat, social and fun atmosphere,” said Marketing Director Crystal Stock. “All of our directors are highly involved in assisting our residents to live the fullest lives possible in retirement.”

Be sure to check our activity calendars for upcoming events and opportunities to take care of yourself – and to encourage others around you to do the same.

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Emporia Presbyterian Manor 2300 Industrial Rd. Emporia, KS 66801-6636 Return Service Requested

Mmm, cherry cobbler!

Did you know National Cherry Cobbler Day is Wednesday, May 17? We’ll celebrate with cherry cobbler for dessert at lunch. All staff and residents, as well as community members, are invited to stop by for your piece of cobbler starting about noon.

Vacation memories We will be featuring summertime, Independence Day, and vacation memories in an upcoming issue of Community Matters.

If you have a story to tell about any of these topics, or if you just want to tell the world what you love about living in your senior living community, we want to share your story.

If you’ve got a story to share, contact Marketing Director Crystal Stock, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.

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Community Matters May 2017

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