Prairie Wind by Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

Come home to independent living at

SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017

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WESTERN HOME PRAIRIE WINDS

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WESTERN HOME PRAIRIE WINDS

COURTESY PHOTO BY DENNY MILLS‌

An aerial view of Prairie Wind, at left, and Jorgensen Plaza and Restorative Suites.

OFFERS NEW AMENITIES FOR ACTIVE LIVING LINDA BOWMAN

Chief Communications Officer Western Home Communities ‌

‌CEDAR FALLS — A moving van pulls up, the door raises and crews unload boxes of belongings. Family members soon follow, excited to see the new surroundings of their parents or grandparents. This scene repeated itself nearly every day in July and August as the first residents of Prairie Wind moved into their new homes. “It’s been great to meet new people and develop a camaraderie among all of us,” says Larry

Leutzinger. He and his wife, Jackie, were the first to move in. “When we heard about this opportunity, it all sounded great to us and we wanted to get in on it. We’re happy to be here.” Prairie Wind is the sixth independent living community built by Western Home Communities, a non-profit Christian service organization in Cedar Falls since 1912. Located west of Prairie Parkway on the 150-acre south campus, Prairie Wind is the first of the six to be three stories tall, with 25 private apartment homes per

floor, and the first where every residence includes outdoor access to a private patio or balcony. “The views of south Cedar Falls are really impressive from the upper floors,” says Chief Operating Officer Jerry Harris, who’s been an employee since the first independent living community opened in 1989. “We’ve always expanded when we’ve had demand for it, and we’ve definitely seen that with Prairie Wind. We needed to accommodate more people who wanted to live here, and we also needed to add new amenities that

appeal to baby boomers.” A lively color scheme greets those who walk through the glass entryway. Artwork with a fresh modern twist combines the colors featured on each floor — golden pear, burnt orange and bright teal. Windows along and at the end of the hallways create light-filled spaces that feel energetic and inviting. Nearly any time of day you’re likely to find new residents gathering in the first-floor dining space for coffee and a game of cards or friendly chit-chat. Daily continental breakfast is available

from the kitchen nook, featuring sleek dark cabinetry, slate appliances and gleaming white granite countertops. A daily evening meal is also served in this space, catered by Barmuda Corp., of Cedar Falls, with 30 years of experience in restaurant design and operation. Barmuda also will help operate a fine dining and fast casual restaurant in the attached Jorgensen Plaza for Well-Being, scheduled to open in early 2018, open to the public and all Western Home Please see AMENITIES, Page 4

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Amenities

independent living resident’s monthly fee includes “Western From 3 Home Dollars” for use on meals, salon appointments and other Communities residents. additional services. “We’re really excited to of“Maybe someone prefers to fer more dining choices,” says eat a hearty breakfast rather than Harris, who explains that each dinner, or they’d rather eat lunch

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here so they can spend time with their family in the evening. And if Prairie Wind residents want to stay in their private dining space, they can still do that and order off the menu. It’s our goal to offer an abundance of choices that meet people’s needs and desires.” Prairie Wind residents will only have to walk through a door off their dining room to reach all the amenities to be offered at Jorgensen Plaza, including the restaurants, a pub, event center, convenience store, salon spa with massage therapist, BRANDON POLLOCK PHOTOS, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌ outpatient therapy, swimming pool, walking track and exercise Gracious seating areas invite residents and their guests to linger. classroom. Sunday worship will take place at Diamond Event Center, which can seat 400 for those weekly Floor plans from Washer/dryer in residence services as well as concerts, pro1,080 – 1,450 square feet Individual heating/cooling grams, parties, wedding recep 2 or 3 bedrooms tions and more. Many events are Underground already booked for June 2018 and heated garage 1 ½ or 2 bathrooms beyond. Full kitchens with Two guest suites “This is a pivotal project that GE appliances Dining, library and really creates a centerpiece for lounge spaces Open concept design the organization and the general public, who can also enjoy the Private patio or balcony Maintenance included restaurants and amenities,” said Large master suites Housekeeping included CEO Kris Hansen. “Our mission is to assertively create fulfilling Walk-in closets Yard work and lifestyles, and that’s the whole shoveling included idea behind this.”

Prairie Wind features

Congratulations Western Home Communities as you open Prairie Wind Independent Living Residents can gather for coffee, cards and chit-chat in the first-floor dining space.

WESTERN HOME PRAIRIE WIND

SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 |

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A view of the secondfloor library.

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Larry and Jackie Leutzinger

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Chief Communications Officer Western Home Communities‌ A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

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‌In their early 70s, Larry and Jackie Leutzinger find themselves on the go as much as ever with golf, bridge, church and travel. “We feel young and able to do things,” Larry says. So why make a move now, while they’re still physically able to maintain a home? “We think this is the perfect time because we can enjoy our freedom,” Larry explains. “Why wait to be forced into a move because your health is suffering? This makes more sense to us.” The Leutzingers travel about once a month, and now their trips can be carefree. “What better situation than to leave your belongings in a place that’s secure and you don’t have to

worry at all when you’re gone?” Larry asks. The hassle-free lifestyle at Prairie Wind appealed to Larry and Jackie from the first time they heard about it. With so many amenities attached at Jorgensen Plaza, this on-the-go couple can stay put and still stay active. They also liked the idea of getting in on the ground floor, so to speak, along with an entire building of new residents. Their house sold quickly and they became the first residents to move in. They had the entire threestory building to themselves for one night. Since then, they’ve enjoyed the camaraderie that’s developed among the charter group of residents, with new ones moving in every day or two – which affords a little time to learn new names.

The Cedar Falls natives appreciate the location of Prairie Wind, just off Prairie Parkway close to the booming retail area along Viking Road. “We can get to highways 20 and 58 easily, walk to lakes on campus or access the trails right here,” Larry says, who’s joined a Monday afternoon walking group on the Western Home Communities campus. “And it’s just two minutes from our door to Walmart, so we can make that trip as often as needed!” One nice thing about moving in early, the Leutzingers say, is watching the changes as so many finishing touches have been put on the three-story building, including artwork and furnishings in the library, lounge and hallways. “It’s really well done and we think it’s great, a real showplace,” Larry enthuses.

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Leaving condo behind for new social life LINDA BOWMAN

Chief Communications Officer Western Home Communities‌

‌CEDAR FALLS — Carol Neumann relocated to Cedar Falls from Green Bay in 2005 and bought a condo, the only maintenance-free option she knew of at the time. Her husband had recently died and she wanted to live near her daughter, a local physician. She soon felt a bit lonely in her solo space. “There were days I didn’t even talk to anybody,” she reflects. “I made friends, but didn’t see them or talk to them every day.” Now Carol can simply walk down the hall to visit with new friends at Prairie Wind. It’s already common to find lively conversations over coffee in the dining area, or an impromptu game of cards in the library. BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF She’s eating better, too; PHOTOGRAPHER‌ cooking for one had become Carol Neumann problematic, in spite of buying

cookbooks with properly apportioned recipes. “After a while in the condo, I wasn’t eating properly,” she explains. “It’s a lot of work to cook meals for one person, and then sit down to eat it alone.” Carol looks forward to the fine dining and fast casual restaurants that open a few months from now in the attached Jorgensen Plaza for Well-Being, another draw when she considered Prairie Wind. She plans to use the wellness center. For now, she appreciates other amenities like housekeeping and the secure underground heated parking garage, which will be even more convenient when winter arrives. “No more slip sliding down a snowy driveway, and I don’t have to take mail or a garbage can to the street when it’s cold and icy,” she says. “Those are all pluses.”

Starting a new life after suffering loss LINDA BOWMAN

Chief Communications Officer Western Home Communities‌

Ron Van Der Meide’s excitement over moving to a new home collides with a painful anniversary. His wife of 48 years passed away two years ago this month, and he feels the loss deeply. “She told me once if I went first, she’d go to Western Home Communities immediately,” Ron recalls, “and I said I didn’t know about that. But here I am, and it’s good.” The retired finance manager for MET Transit admits he’s not a cook, in spite of his wife’s efforts to teach him. And even a condo was more homeowner responsibility than he wanted. So Prairie Wind made sense; he signed up just a few months after losing his wife. Then he continued traveling, something they loved doing together, and went on his first trip with “Away from Home

with Western Home” earlier this year – months before moving in. “I was hesitant going by myself, but everybody was so friendly that I had a very good time,” he says. “I’m already on board for the trip to Pennsylvania this fall and Nashville after Thanksgiving!” Ron also heard about the Big Kids Bike Klub, a resident initiative where bicycle enthusiasts gather weekly for a ride. He likes riding with them and joins the group whenever he can, in between other responsibilities: delivering Meals on Wheels® and visiting grandchildren in western Iowa and Minnesota. “My son and daughter think this is a good move,” he says. “They’ve got busy schedules, but they helped me clean out the condo and my daughter basically picked out my carpet and countertops. She’s going to hang pictures with me, too.” With just two weeks under

A Davenport native, Carol the right size and says she’s really spent years in California, Texas happy living here, just as she is and Wisconsin, never expecting in her new home at Prairie Wind. to end up in her home state. She finds the Cedar Valley to be just Please see SOCIAL, Page 8

Congratulations

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Congratulations Western Home Communities on Prairie Wind

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Ron Van Der Meide his belt at Prairie Wind, he’s happy to be settling in. “I enjoy doing things with people, and it’ll be easy to do that here,” he says. “Every morning I’ve gone to the dining room for breakfast, I’ve sat and talked with someone new.”

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WESTERN HOME PRAIRIE WIND

Coming home after two decades in Florida child in the midst of a harsh Iowa “We visited my aunt and unwinter, a trip to Florida seemed cle there in the early 1950s,” Janet magical — long before Disney Doud recalls. “When we left Belle ‌CEDAR FALLS — To a young World existed. Plaine it was twenty below zero, so when we arrived and stepped into their azalea garden, it was so beautiful I thought I’d died and Hawkeye Alarm gone to heaven!” and Signal Janet knew then she wanted to live there, and her lifelong dream Serving Northeast Iowa Since 1958 came true in 1994. Her husband, Jim, took a job with the University of Florida after 24 years in Cedar Falls. Now, another 23 years later, they’ve returned to settle into a new home at Prairie Wind. “We still have a lot of boxes to unpack,” Janet says, “and thank goodness we don’t have to go through everything at once!” Over the years, the Douds had visited Janet’s parents in the CeCongratulations to Western Home Communities dar Rapids area and often stopped for another Successful Addition! to see a lifelong friend who lived at Western Home Communities. • Commercial & Residential • Computer Network Cabling So the Douds toured and agreed Security Systems • Fiber Optic Cabling • Commercial Fire Alarm Systems • IP Camera Systems with their friend’s assessment. • Business Telephone Systems “We could’ve gone to a place 16 W. Commercial, Waterloo, IA 50701 like this in Florida, but there’s 319-232-0490 something special about Iowa www.hawkeyealarm.com people, really,” Janet explains.

LINDA BOWMAN

Chief Communications Officer Western Home Communities‌

MARTINSON

c o n s t r u c t i o n

BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Prairie Winds. Photographed Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. “We thought, let’s go home to Iowa.” That decision required some downsizing on their part. Janet is a collector and knew she would have to get rid of things. “I don’t know how we happened to get so much stuff,” she laughs. “The first thing I gave away was the hardest. The more I gave away,

because it’s about living

the easier it became. I felt people could really use the things.” Books went to Friends of the Library. More than 200 cookbooks went to PEO friends. Furniture blessed new neighbors from the Dominican Republic who didn’t have much. Now Janet says they could’ve gotten rid of even more — as they arrived in Iowa with a full semi. “Everyone is so warm and delightful,” Janet enthuses. “I love the people.” What about those sunny skies, warm temperatures, vibrant flowers and sandy beaches? Oh, they loved Florida life and have no regrets. Yet Jim sums it up succinctly: “I’m just happy to be home.”

Social From 7

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She encourages anyone thinking about such a move to schedule a tour; Carol wishes she had known about Western Home Communities when she arrived in town twelve years ago. “Get your name on the list now!” she recommends. “Don’t put it off. Do it sooner rather than later.”

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Choosing to leave big house in small town LINDA BOWMAN

Chief Communications Officer Western Home Communities‌

‌Cleaning out the family home after her parents’ deaths two years ago left an indelible impression on Linda Ohrt. “They could’ve moved to a place like Western Home Communities but chose not to, then they became so isolated. Dad wore himself out taking care of Mom,” Linda recalls. “They waited too long to make the decision, and we decided we weren’t going to put our kids through that.” True to their word, when Linda and Dean saw an ad for Prairie Wind about a year ago, they immediately scheduled an informational meeting and COURTESY PHOTO‌ reserved a new home that very day. They quickly started pack- Dean and Linda Ohrt ing and were prepared for their “We decided after the first day that move about three weeks ago. “Our daughter has been here 1,450 square feet is plenty of space. several times already and she I still have my sewing area and Dean has says thank you, thank you, thank you!” Linda laughs. his computer office.” Choosing Prairie Wind meant moving away from the Traer Linda Ohrt home where they’d lived for 19 years, but they were ready to give up the responsibility of maintaining a large yard and a 120-year-old house with all the bedrooms upstairs. They can easily manage steps right now, but recognize their physical abilities might decline in the future. “We like this real well already, especially the great view,” Linda explains. “We decided after the first day that 1,450 square feet is plenty of space. I still have my sewing area and Dean has his computer office.” Another thing they appreciate is the convenient location to retail, restaurants and health clinics. They can’t wait to have a swimming pool next door in Jorgensen Plaza for Well-Being; they’ve gotten used to amenities like that from spending winters in Arizona the past few years, a practice they’ll continue as long as they enjoy it. As they approach their 50th

wedding anniversary next month, the Ohrts appreciate new neighbors and new perspectives. “We were surrounded by

houses in Traer and now it feels like we’re out in the country,” says Linda. “The evenings are so quiet and peaceful.”

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WESTERN HOME PRAIRIE WIND

New concept for senior living REPRINTED FROM GALLERY OF HOMES MAGAZINE

‌A new concept in 55+ living comes to fruition with the opening of Prairie Wind, the sixth independent living community designed by Western Home Communities in Cedar Falls. Located at 5313 Caraway Lane, just west of Prairie Parkway, Prairie Wind incorporates hassle-free living with enhanced opportunities for all aspects of well-being: physical, social, intellectual, physical and emotional. The design by AHTS Architects in Waterloo incorporates brick and stone masonry in the façade. The three-story U-shaped building includes 25 residences per floors and offers residents a choice of views to the east or west, or to the expansive courtyard in between two wings. The private dining room for residents is located near the front entrance on first floor. The

complex rehab wheelchair seating and positioning

BRANDON POLLOCK PHOTOS, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER‌

Residences range from 1,080 to 1,450 square feet. Each offers a private patio or balcony For a personal tour and inplus two or three bedrooms, 1 formation on how to live at ½ or two bathrooms, spacious Prairie Wind, contact Maria kitchen with island, appliances Murphy at (319) 859-9311. (full-size refrigerator, stove, Or visit westernhomecommumicrowave and dishwasher), nities.org/prairiewind. walk-in closet, a secure underground heated parking garage, second and third floors include bi-weekly housekeeping, translibrary/lounge spaces for use by portation to appointments and residents and available for them to host private events. Please see CONCEPT, Page 11

Passionately Committed

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Home Infusion

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Home Modification

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WESTERN HOME PRAIRIE WIND

Concept From 10

events, all maintenance, lawn care and snow removal. Continental breakfast is provided daily and dining at Prairie Wind is managed by Barmuda, well-known for its restaurant venues in the Cedar Valley. A chef-designed menu will offer residents a palate-pleasing variety of options. The attached Jorgensen Plaza for Well-Being opens in early 2018. Prairie Wind residents will enjoy easy access to amenities that enhance well-being: Diamond Event Center for weekly worship, concerts, classes, weddings and special events; walking/jogging track; exercise equipment; exercise classes, including yoga and tai chi; swimming pool with lap lanes and resistance current; aquatics classes; outpatient therapy; salon spa with massage therapy; fast casual restaurant with healthy options; pub and fine dining

“We can’t wait to see how Jor- we serve,” Amanda Lynch en- Home Communities to enhance Interior furnishings and accessogensen Plaza impacts the health thuses. “This demonstrates well-being and help all of us live ries seen here provided by Basket of Daisies in Cedar Falls. and well-being of the people the commitment of Western our best possible lives.”

Congrats on the New Prairie Wind!

CONGRATULATIONS WESTERN HOME COMMUNITIES

800 Commercial St. Waterloo, IA 50702

ON THE ADDITION OF PRAIRIE WIND INDEPENDENT LIVING THANKS FOR ALLOWING US TO BE A PART OF YOUR TEAM

T: 319-233-0471 F: 319-423-6132 www.ohdcwaterloo.com office@ohdcwaterloo.com

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WESTERN HOME PRAIRIE WINDS

Congratulations!

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