A Caring Community
Over 70 years ago, one man’s gift sparked a long-lasting, vibrant retirement community on the shore of Big Cedar Lake.
Cedar Community first started with a donation. A farmer named William Koehl gave his property overlooking Big Cedar Lake in West Bend to the United Church of Christ in the early 1950s. He was close with the local pastor and requested that the land be used to create a home for retired people. The pastor and his congregation got to work. In 1953, Cedar Community opened its doors on Koehl’s land.
“Volunteers from United Church of Christ congregations all over southeast Wisconsin would travel to the West Bend campus to assist with work on the grounds, activities and even cooking in the early days,” says Sarah Malchow, Cedar Community’s Chief Administrative Officer. “Bed by bed and building by building, that initial gift has grown to over 500 acres.”
Cedar Community, now celebrating over 70 years, has three campuses in close proximity in West Bend, and has been a pioneering force in retirement care. In 1976, it opened one of the nation’s first dedicated memory care facilities, where it helped lead the effort to use music therapy for Alzheimer’s patients. In the 1980s, it broke ground on its adjacent Cedar Ridge campus, which now has over 284 apartments. Most recently, Cedar Community opened The Lofts at Cedar Lake, housing 15 loft-style residences within walking distance of its namesake lake. And this May, the community will finish construction on its Cedar Lake campus remodeling.
“We consider ourselves to be stewards of this amazing land, the pristine natural resources and abundant wildlife, and the lakefront and watersheds,” says Malchow. “With miles of groomed trails, lake frontage, and prairies to explore, our friends and neighbors can enjoy an active lifestyle in all seasons –boating and swimming, snowshoeing
and skiing, hiking, and biking. Our commitment to honoring the gift of this land is unwavering.”
The retirement community, about 45 minutes north of Milwaukee, has over 900 residents, nearly 400 employees and over 300 volunteers who keep its three campuses vibrant. It offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, short-term rehab, as well as home health and hospice care. The living options are varied and customizable, with a wide array of amenities to go with them.
“We are a faith-based community comprised of exceptional residents and team members who really focus on putting the ‘community’ in Cedar Community,” says Nicole Pretre, president and CEO of Cedar Community. “Our team is focused on treating our residents with dignity – at all levels of independence or need for care. We need great people to serve great people. And we are blessed with both!” ◆
“ Our beautiful campus truly sets us apart. ”
SARAH MALCHOW
Cedar Community
5595
113
6090
cedarcommunity.org