Grinnell Regional Medical Center

Kellogg Couple Adds $50,000 to GRMC Campaign
Rex and Bette Miskimins of Kellogg have donated $50,000 to Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Blueprint for Health campaign.

“We thought that giving to the medical center was one of the best things we could do to help it improve the facility,” says Rex Miskimins. “The hospital has helped both of us. It’s probably why we are both still living today.”

Bette Miskimins adds: “We are so lucky to have a hospital of GRMC’s caliber just six miles from home-a five minute drive. The people in this area should be thankful that we have it here.”

Areas that will be expanded and renovated as a part of the Blueprint for Health campaign include physical and occupational therapy, emergency, cardiopulmonary, and laboratory departments. The campaign will also allow the medical center to create a new auxiliary gift shop and make needed enhancements to the hospital’s technology infrastructure. Renovation has already been completed on the Candace Packard Lambie Intensive Care Unit and the Warren H. Bower Surgery Center.

The donation from the Miskimins comes in the form of a charitable remainder annuity trust, which will pay the couple a fixed income for life from the trust’s assets. In addition to making this gift to the Blueprint for Health campaign, the couple has named GRMC in their wills.

“This gift from the Miskimins is important to GRMC’s capital campaign,” says Mindy Schroeder, director of development. “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing the Miskimins for a number of years. They are so dedicated to continuing the good work of the medical center. We are so grateful for their continued support.”

Rex and Bette both studied at Truman University and earned their undergraduate degrees from Drake University. Rex later earned a master’s degree in elementary school administration from Northeast Missouri State College, where Bette received a master’s degree in teaching reading. In 2002, the Miskimins received Truman University’s Presidential Award for Leadership.

Rex and Bette both began teaching in southern Iowa. In 1961, the couple moved to Newton, where Rex became a principal and Bette taught junior high English and established the Newton Reading Clinic.

“Our only connection to Grinnell is the hospital,” Bette says. “Our uncle, who was a physician in Chicago, told us to go to Dr. Light when we moved to the area. We were his patients until he retired. Now we are in the capable hands of Dr. Doorenbos and Dr. Arnold.”

The Miskimins have always been thankful for that bit of advice, and they appreciate the care they have both received at GRMC and from Raymond Light, MD; Dustin Arnold, DO; Roy Doorenbos, MD; and David Coster, MD, over the years.

“When I was diagnosed with lung cancer several years ago, my family thought I should have gone to Rochester or Des Moines for my care,” Bette says. “I knew better. There just is not better personalized care that what you get at GRMC. From the first moment I met Dr. Coster I knew I was in great hands.” Coster is a surgeon with Surgical Associates of Grinnell.

In appreciation for the Miskimins’s gift, GRMC has named a hospice room after them. The pair is pleased about having Room 114 named in their honor.

“We had a friend and neighbor receive care in one of GRMC’s hospice rooms. Her daughter was grateful for how much solace and care they received at GRMC,” Bette says.

GRMC Receives Gift from Oltrogge Estate
Grinnell Regional Medical Center has received a $112,769 gift from the estate of Eldon Oltrogge.
“He was a very kind man. His generosity doesn’t surprise me at all,” says Sara Wray, RN, a nurse with Grinnell Regional Hospice who helped care for Oltrogge before his death on July 22, 2003, at the age of 83.

Connie Locker, assistant vice-president of Grinnell State Bank, which served as executor of Oltrogge’s estate, agrees.
“Eldon would do anything for anybody. He wanted to do something that would benefit a lot of people,” Locker says.
The medical center was that place.
“Eldon realized the importance of the hospital and he really wanted to do something for the entire community. He felt the hospital would help the most people and leave a legacy for himself and his family,” says Austin Jones, executive vice-president at Grinnell State Bank. The bank has a full-service trust department and manages numerous conservatories, trusts, estates, investment management accounts, and farms.

Oltrogge’s gift will be used to purchase equipment for GRMC’s radiography and fluoroscopy suite in the radiology department.

Radiography and fluoroscopy imaging uses two different forms of radiography from the same piece of equipment. The radiography portion allows the radiologist to view everything from chest x-rays to broken bones. The fluoroscopy capabilities use an x-ray video technique that allows technicians to create x-rays with movement. This test is used to evaluate a patient’s digestive system-from swallowing difficulties to colon cancer.

“This new equipment is important because it uses the latest in technology for reduction in radiation dose to patients. In addition, we’ll be able to perform more exams in Grinnell because the new equipment can handle heavier patients,” says Kevin Kincaid, GRMC director of radiology.

“We’re thrilled that Eldon thought to include us in his will,” says Mindy Schroeder, GRMC director of development. “Individuals like Eldon who make planned gifts to the medical center, whether through their estates or other life-income arrangements, truly make a difference in the lives of those served by the medical center.”

Oltrogge and his wife, the late Hazel Boliver Oltrogge, were longtime Grinnell residents. Oltrogge graduated from Grinnell High School in 1939. During World War II he served with the 383rd Army Air Corp Unit. After he was discharged in 1945, he returned to the Grinnell area to farm. He retired from farming in 1983. Oltrogge enjoyed working the farmland, woodworking, taking trips with the Grinnell State Bank Heritage Club, and writing about local history and his biography.

Patriot Bank and Arendt Family Support Medical Center
Whether it is serving on the board, helping with the Grinnell Regional Auxiliary, or contributing to the Blueprint for Health campaign, the Arendt family supports Grinnell Regional Medical Center in big ways.

Craig and Judy Arendt hauled a decorated Christmas tree around Grinnell on the back of a pick up on a cold night in early December to raise money for the auxiliary at the community’s Festival of Trees event.

As a GRMC board member, Jack Arendt spends hours every month poring over finances and making decisions on the medical center’s behalf.

Craig and Jack and their sister, Barb Baker, have also made personal financial contributions to the medical center and have supported the Brooklyn Medical Clinic campaign and the Building on Excellence campaign.

In addition, the family business, Patriot Bank, recently made a $25,000 pledge to GRMC’s Blueprint for Health campaign, taking the campaign total to more than $6.5 million.

“What we want is a good, strong hospital. It’s good for the community. It’s good for our employees. It’s good for our families,” says Jack Arendt, executive vice-president and chief operating officer for the bank.

Craig Arendt, president and CEO of the bank, agrees. “We are very lucky to have the hospital in Grinnell. It’s a good cause. It’s an unbelievable institution. Anyone who doubts that should just go take a look.”

The three siblings are also supporting the Blueprint for Health campaign on a personal basis. Their combined personal contributions to the medical clinic total another $10,500, taking the family’s and the bank’s total contribution up to $35,500.

“We would not have the hospital we have today without the community support and important commitments from organizations and people like Patriot Bank and the Arendt family,” says Deborah Pohlson, chair of GRMC’s board of trustees.

Patriot Bank is a full service bank that also serves as a full service insurance, real estate agency, and investment center. The bank has offices in Agency, Brooklyn, Deep River, Gibson, Keswick, and New Sharon, and plans call for opening an office in Grinnell in 2005.

In appreciation for the bank’s gift, GRMC has named an x-ray room in the radiology department after Patriot Bank and the Arendt family.

Retired Nurse Adds $20,000 to Hospital Campaign

After working and volunteering at Grinnell Regional Medical Center for 56 years, one retired nurse is now making an impact of a different sort. She has made contributions totaling $20,932.60 to help with the medical center’s Blueprint for Health campaign.

“I’ve wanted for some time now to do more. I found in reviewing my finances with my financial counselor that I had some I could give,” says Leila Maring, RN, of Grinnell.

Maring originally pledged $10,000 to the medical center’s $8.2 million capital campaign, which is funding renovations to many areas, including the emergency department, the laboratory, and the auxiliary gift shop.

Earlier this year Maring fulfilled that pledge and recently transferred 274 shares of Verizon Communications stock totaling $10,932.60 to GRMC, bringing her total giving level to the campaign to more than $20,000 and her lifetime giving to the medical center to more than $33,000.

A portion of Maring’s recent gift was given in the form of a gift annuity, a contract in which the donor exchanges a gift of cash or securities for a fixed income each year for the rest of their life.

“Because we have such a state of the art facility and building plan, I wanted to see it continue and advance. Any time any of us can give comfortably, I feel we should. My choice was to give to healthcare because I’ve been involved in the health field since 1943. As an added benefit, the gift annuity will generate me a little income during my lifetime,” Maring says.

“Leila is a GRMC icon,” says Todd C. Linden, president and CEO of GRMC. “She is so well loved within the hospital community for her contributions as a former employee and the work she has done as a hospital and hospice volunteer. She is very committed to making sure that GRMC patients have the best experience possible. Her gifts of time and resources to the medical center will ensure that GRMC patients continue to receive the best healthcare possible well into the future.”

Maring started working at Grinnell Community Hospital in 1948 and received a salary of $82 per month, one free meal, and laundry service for uniforms. She was a home care/public health nurse for 20 years and served on the steering committee to develop Grinnell Regional Home Health. In addition, she was a member of the original hospice board. She is a current member of the medical center’s Senior Education Center steering committee and is a past president of the GRMC auxiliary. She has served on the GRMC board of trustees since 1998.

“It has been a real benefit having a nurse on the GRMC board of directors,” Linden says. “She brings such a caring voice to the table.”

Maring and her late husband, Bob, have three children: Lana Maring-Woodside, Linda Griswold, and Chas Maring; and six grandchildren.

In appreciation for her gift, GRMC has named a pre and post operating room in memory of her late husband. In addition, Maring is now a member of the GRMC Legacy Club, which recognizes those who have made a bequest or a planned gift to the medical center.

Manatt Family Cements Support to GRMC’s Capital Campaign
Despite rumors to the contrary, stone really does have a heart.
Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Blueprint for Health campaign has reached the $6.3 million mark thanks to pledges from several Manatt families and their businesses.

Renowned for paving many of Iowa’s roads with their ready mix concrete, the following Manatts have swelled the campaign total by $120,000:

These gifts come as welcome news to GRMC. “We are very grateful to the Manatts for stepping forward with such generous gifts. It is not common to find one large extended family like the Manatts who support a single institution like GRMC. We are very lucky for it is people like the Manatts who have made GRMC what it is today,” says Todd C. Linden, president and CEO of GRMC.

“The roads the Manatts have built for the past half century benefit all of Iowa. Their donations to the medical center will benefit residents of Central Iowa for years to come by allowing us to expand the laboratory department, physical therapy department, the emergency room, the volunteer center, our technology system, and more,” he adds.

The Manatts echoed very similar reasons for donating to the medical center’s most ambitious fund-raising campaign in its history. They believe in giving back to the
community, especially to the residents of Poweshiek County, and they want to ensure that quality healthcare will remain available to their families and their employees.

“We looked at the improvements GRMC has planned with this campaign and felt they would be important for the healthcare of people in this area,” says Debi Olson of Grinnell, representing the owners of Manatts Enterprises. She is the daughter of G.J. Junie Manatt, who founded the construction and ready mix concrete company in 1947. Manatts Enterprises is now owned primarily by Junie’s brother and sister-in-law, Merlin and Verna Manatt of Grinnell, and Junie’s six children: Olson; her brothers, John Manatt of Victor and Tim Manatt of Gilbertville; and her sisters Melia Rhoads, Mary Jo Thompson, and Mindy Holder, all of Brooklyn.

“Our father believed in giving back to his community. Because of what he has passed on to us, my siblings and I feel an obligation to continue support for the well-being of area residents,” Olson adds.

The owners of Manatts Inc. widely supported the Blueprint for Health campaign.
“We feel strongly about having quality healthcare for the citizens of Poweshiek County. We are very loyal to Poweshiek County. It’s our home,” says Brad Manatt, president of Manatts Inc., which employs about 250 people in Brooklyn and 1,000 throughout the state.

“We have a wonderful hospital in Poweshiek County,” he adds. “We want it to continue to be a great, first-rate facility for our families and our employees and their families.”

The children of Clair and Ruth Manatt agree.
“It’s important for the community to have a good medical facility. All the Manatt children grew up in this area and were born here. They feel an attachment to the community and when you need quality healthcare, you want it nearby,” says Joanne Manatt, representing the children of Clair and Ruth Manatt.

John and Marlene Manatt made a contribution to the medical center to make it a better place.
“We have a lot of employees, children, and grandchildren who use the hospital. We wanted to help with this in the hopes that it will do some good,” says John Manatt. The blood drawing room will be named in their honor because John goes there each month to have his blood drawn for a medical condition.

Merlin and Verna Manatt are supporting the Blueprint for Health campaign with a $15,000 commitment. For their donation, the physical therapy modality room will be named in their honor.

“I’ve used the physical therapy department and I’ve seen the area that they have to work with,” says Merlin Manatt. “This gift will help the department expand services for all patients. Our gift is one way we gift back to the community. We want a hospital of this high level to be available.”

The Manatt family and their businesses have always been generous to GRMC and its affiliates. In addition to the Blueprint for Health campaign, the Manatts have also supported the hospital’s Building on Excellence Capital Campaign and the campaign for the Brooklyn Medical Clinic.

S&S Electric Sparks GRMC Capital Campaign
S&S Electric has announced its generous support of Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Blueprint for Health campaign with a $25,000 commitment.

“GRMC is an asset to the whole community,” says Scott Sieck, who owns S&S Electric with his father, Lloyd. “I think we tend to take for granted that it will always be there for you when you need it. Our hope is that this gift will help it keep growing and expanding to benefit the area.”

Lloyd Sieck agrees.
“I want to make sure the medical center is kept up-to-date and is as modern as it can be. It takes money to do that,” says Sieck, who has watched the hospital grow as his business has grown since he started it in 1966.

“It’s been a 100 percent improvement for the whole community. We’ve got some of the best doctors here that some hospitals are not so lucky to have. I know they treated me well when I was a patient there,” he says.

S&S Electric, which employs 14 people in Grinnell, has served as the medical center’s electrical contractor for more than two years. The company is responsible for completing all electric work on the Candace Packard Lambie Intensive Care Unit and the recently completed Warren H. Bower Surgery Center. Both projects were made possible because of donations to the Blueprint for Health campaign.

“This gift is also one way for us to thank the hospital for allowing us to be its electrical contractor. We appreciate that the hospital uses local businesses,” Scott Sieck says. “In addition, it’s a pleasure to work at the medical center and with the employees who all have caring attitudes. It’s good to see and wonderful to be a part of.”

With the addition of the gift from S&S Electric, GRMC has raised $6.2 million toward the $8.2 million Blueprint for Health campaign goal.

“This is a generous gift from an important GRMC business partner,” says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “We are as grateful for this gift as we are for the quality work that S&S Electric has offered to our building projects. Both will ensure that the medical center will continue to be an exceptional facility.”

Future projects under the Blueprint for Health campaign include renovations of the physical and occupational therapy, laboratory, emergency, and cardiopulmonary departments. The campaign will also fund a new auxiliary gift shop and enhancements to the hospital’s technology infrastructure.

Campaign Surpasses $6 Million Meets $750,000 Challenge
Officials at Grinnell Regional Medical Center announced this week that fund-raising efforts for the Blueprint for Health campaign have topped the $6 million mark with total giving at $6,045,286.88.

Along with the $6 million achievement, GRMC has reached a $750,000 challenge match with the help of about 200 donors who have given or pledged at the $1,000 and above level. In March 2003, an anonymous donor agreed to match every new gift or pledge of $1,000 or more up to a total of $750,000.

“The capital campaign has drawn extraordinarily high levels of support. It’s thrilling to feel the enthusiasm of so many people,” says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “Matching the grant and reaching this significant milestone puts the medical center at 73 percent of the total campaign goal of $8.2 million. That is good news for our patients who rely on quality care and services.”

“Changes made possible by the campaign are already evident at GRMC,” he adds. “Because of early commitments, we were able to complete the Candace Packard Lambie Intensive Care Unit. In addition, the Warren H. Bower Surgery Center will open in August.”

Additional areas to be expanded and renovated with funding from the Blueprint for Health campaign include the physical and occupational therapy, emergency, cardiopulmonary, and laboratory departments. The campaign will also allow the medical center to create a new auxiliary gift shop and make needed enhancements to the hospital’s technology infrastructure.

Gifts to the campaign so far have ranged from a $3 donation to a $1 million donation. They have arrived in the form of cash, checks, gift annuities, gifts of stock, and 41,589 bushels of corn and soybeans. Nearly 1,430 donors have contributed to the campaign so far, including more than 500 first-time donors to GRMC. Eleven donors have made gifts of stock totaling $472,523.

Ruth Price of Victor was one of seven donors who made a planned gift to the campaign. Her gift to the fund-raising effort brought the planned giving total to $193,437.

“My family had always gone to Iowa City when we needed to be in the hospital. When my husband had to go to GRMC’s emergency room in his last days, I was impressed with the care we got there. I’ve also had some health problems and I don’t know what I would do without Dr. Yablonsky. So, why should I go to Iowa City when I have GRMC?” Price says.

“I knew the emergency room needed things. I knew the physical therapy area needed things. The nurses and doctors are definitely interested in their patients. Because of all the confidence I have in the Grinnell hospital, I decided to support the campaign,” she adds.

All gifts to the Blueprint for Health campaign are tax-deductible as permissible by law. For information on how to contribute the campaign, please call Mindy Schroeder, director of development, at 641-236-2961.

JELD-WEN Foundation
The JELD-WEN Foundation has awarded a $1 million grant to Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Blueprint for Health capital campaign.

JELD-WEN is the parent company of Wenco and Doorcraft of Iowa, and is the world’s leading manufacturer of windows and doors.

The JELD-WEN grant funds will be distributed to the medical center over a five-year period. Stuart Kintzinger, general manger of Doorcraft of Iowa in Grinnell, and Bob Littke, general manager of Wenco of Iowa in Grinnell, helped make the gift possible by endorsing the grant request.

"When we submitted the grant proposal, we knew that JELD-WEN understood the far-reaching impact of a community gift like this. The foundation likes to support growth," says Kintzinger, who is also a member of the GRMC board of trustees and co-chair of the Blueprint for Health campaign. "We are very grateful for this generous gift from the foundation."

Littke explains that the JELD-WEN Foundation "exists to benefit the communities where our employees live and work. Medical care is something everybody needs. With a gift like this that helps GRMC, we are able to help the employees we have now and our retired employees, as well as future employees of JELD-WEN."

Because of GRMC’s commitment to bring healthcare closer to home, the gift also allows JELD-WEN to reach employees living in the communities that surround Grinnell, Littke adds.

"We have great employees in Grinnell. This grant to GRMC touches just about every one of our employees and their families, including our employees from the surrounding area," Kintzinger says. 'A gift like this will enrich the community in which our employees live."

JELD-WEN started in the 1960s as a small millwork plant in southern Oregon and now has more than 150 divisions and more than 20,000 employees worldwide, including two plants and more than 300 employees in Grinnell.

GRMC Receives $750,000 Matching Challenge
An anonymous donor has posed a challenge to area citizens, businesses, and institutions to help Grinnell Regional Medical Center reach its $8.2 million Blueprint for Health capital campaign goal.

Beginning Thursday, March 27, 2003, the donor will match every new gift or pledge of $1,000 or more up to a total of $750,000.

"This gift couldn’t have come at a better time. The donor’s generosity is a real boost to our campaign. We’re currently at half of our goal and if this initiative succeeds, it will put us $1.5 million closer. It’s exciting because it means we might be able to start construction on the projects sooner than we ever dreamed, and that’s great news for our patients," says Ed Hatcher, volunteer co-chair of the campaign.

Money raised from the Blueprint for Health campaign will allow GRMC to enlarge and renovate the surgery, physical and occupational therapy, laboratory, emergency, and cardiopulmonary departments. It will also allow the medical center to create a new auxiliary gift shop and make needed enhancements to the hospital’s technology infrastructure. Because of early commitments to the campaign, the medical center has already begun construction on the Candace Packard Lambie Intensive Care Unit, which is slated for completion in June 2003.

The matching challenge makes it a unique time to give to the medical center, says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO.

"A gift to the campaign now will have double the impact. Not only will it help us secure this significant challenge, it will also help bring state-of-the-art healthcare to patients in the greater Poweshiek area. The sooner the challenge is met, the sooner individuals will be able to benefit from the improved facilities," he says.

Ahrens Foundation
The Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation has pledged $500,000 over a five-year period to Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Blueprint for Health campaign.

"We feel fortunate to be able to carry out our grandfather’s wishes through the foundation," says Julie Gosselink, foundation president, referring to the late Claude Ahrens. "It is our goal to facilitate his vision."

"One of the priorities of the foundation is to enhance healthcare and quality of life in our surrounding communities," she adds. "Claude really wanted to improve the quality of life in Grinnell and the medical center is key to that."

"The mission statement of the foundation is to ‘leave it better than you found it.’ This gift will not only benefit GRMC, it will also enhance quality of life in the area," says Witt, who is vice-president of the foundation as well as a member of the GRMC board of trustees.

The Ahrens Foundation is comprised of five members: Gosselink; Witt; Chad Ahrens, assistant treasurer; Randy Juhl, secretary; and David Clay, treasurer.

Claude Ahrens and the foundation have built a legacy of supporting the medical center. Ahrens donated more than $800,000 for the Paul W. Ahrens Fitness and Rehabilitation Center. In addition, in 1998, the foundation posed a challenge to area citizens, businesses, and institutions to help fund the medical center’s Building on Excellence Campaign. In that campaign, the foundation matched every gift of $10,000 or greater to GRMC up to a total of $250,000.

The Jones Family
Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s physical therapy department will soon become the "F.A. Jones Physical and Occupational Therapy Center."

Two generations of the Jones family—Addison and Marion Jones and their children and spouses, David and Kathy Jones and Austin and Kim Jones—have joined together to make a $250,000 donation to the medical center’s Blueprint for Health campaign to renovate and improve the physical and occupational therapy departments. They have decided to name the center after their father and grandfather, who was the former president of Grinnell State Bank.

"This gift is a lifetime achievement gift for Marion and Addison," says David Jones. "By making this gift now, it can be enjoyed in their lifetime."

Construction plans for the new center call for doubling the space of the facility, creating a new physical therapy gym with more privacy, and adding five modality/exam rooms and a new reception area. The occupational therapy department will move from the Ahrens Medical Arts Building next to physical therapy.

Several factors inspired the Jones’ to make this gift to the medical center. Those factors include need, quality of life issues, appreciation of care received, love of the institution, giving back to the community, and witnessing good leadership.

"We are all interested in the quality of life in this community," says Addison Jones. "The hospital needs our support since it’s not a tax-supported institution."

David Jones adds: "This gift represents a major commitment to the hospital on our part. If you don’t reach out to your community in a big way, it won’t be there in the future. The community has been good to us, and we wanted to do something that was important to GRMC and important to the community of Grinnell. We’re happy we’re in a position to do it."

"The hospital has been doing things right. It’s been managed well and is deserving of receiving this gift," Austin Jones says.

The family’s love of the medical center runs deep and is long-lasting. Addison’s father, F.A. Jones served on the hospital’s board when St. Francis and Community hospitals merged in the 1960s. Marion served on the hospital’s board in the 1980’s and was the first female to chair the board of trustees. She also has chaired the GRMC Auxiliary, managed the gift shop, and organized three charity balls on the hospital’s behalf. Austin currently serves as a member of GRMC’s foundation executive board. Several family members volunteered to help raise money for the Building on Excellence Campaign as well as the Blueprint for Health campaign.

In addition, Austin’s wife, Kim, is an obstetrics nurse in the Kintzinger Women’s Health Center, and David’s wife, Kathy, was once a nurse on the medical/surgical floor.

The family has also benefited from the services provided at the medical center. In fact, three family members are former physical therapy patients. Their experiences made them appreciate the need for an expansion and renovation of that area and contributed to their decision to designate their gift to the physical therapy department.

"We wouldn’t have the quality of life we have in Grinnell without the hospital," Austin Jones says.

Don Lambie
Don Lambie of Grinnell donated a $250,000 gift to GRMC’s Blueprint for Health campaign in honor of his late wife of 62 years, Candace Packard Lambie. This lead gift will be used for the completion of GRMC’s new Candace Packard Lambie Intensive Care Unit. The facility, already under construction, is set to be ready by June 2003.

"This gift is for Candace," Lambie says, adding that "GRMC does a super job. It’s an asset to us all."

Grinnell College
Grinnell College has contributed $200,000 to Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s $8.2 million Blueprint for Health campaign as part of a $1 million investment in the community.

Grinnell Mutual Foundation
Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company’s foundation has awarded a $50,000 pledge to GRMC’s Blueprint for Health campaign and is inspiring its employees to give as well by matching gifts to the campaign from Grinnell Mutual employees up to a total of $50,000.

"The hospital is one of the anchors here in the community," says Dan Agnew, president of Grinnell Mutual, when explaining the insurance company’s decision to make a gift to the medical center. "Grinnell would not be the community that it is if it did not have the hospital."

"With 700 employees, we want to have good quality healthcare available—whether it’s for regular checkups or emergency care. We feel we have a good health insurance benefit for our employees. One of the ways to enhance that is by having a good quality hospital in the community," he adds.

Jan and Jim Hansen
Jim and Jan Hansen of Montezuma have donated two planned gifts totaling $132,000 to Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Blueprint for Health campaign.

The Hansen’s gift to the medical center came in the form of a gift of grain—41,589.9 bushels to be exact—which funded two trusts for them, a charitable remainder annuity trust and a charitable remainder unitrust. They will receive income from the trusts during their lifetime.

"We are delighted with this bountiful contribution from the Hansens," says Mindy Schroeder, GRMC director of development. "This is a creative and wonderful way to make a contribution to the medical center. It allows the Hansens to make a substantial gift for GRMC’s future while at the same time provides them an income for life."

The assets from their gift will go toward GRMC’s $8.2 million capital campaign, which will fund the expansion and renovation of the physical and occupational therapy, emergency, intensive care, surgery, cardiopulmonary, and laboratory departments. It will also allow the medical center to establish a new auxiliary gift shop and improve the hospital’s technology infrastructure.

"I’m getting older and I might need medical attention someday," jokes Jim about the family’s decision to make the contribution to the medical center.

On a more serious note, the couple felt that making the donation to the medical center was a practical decision for everyone involved.

"My kids and grandchildren all live in Poweshiek and Mahaska counties and they will benefit in the future from a state-of-the-art medical center," says Jim, who recently retired after farming the Montezuma area since 1965.

Jan Hansen adds that it is wonderful "to see something important being done with your money."

The Hansens also felt a strong connection to GRMC. Their daughter, Julie Anderson, works at Surgical Associates of Grinnell. In addition, their daughter-in-law, Michele Hansen, is a physician’s assistant at Montezuma Medical Clinic, where she practices with J.B. Paulson, MD.

GRMC Campaign Grows Another $155,000
Three Grinnell families and two local businesses have each contributed major gifts between $30,000 and $35,000 to Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Blueprint for Health campaign.

"When combined, these generous gifts bring GRMC $155,000 closer to our $8.2 million goal," says Mindy Schroeder, GRMC director of development. "We’ve been in the public phase of the campaign since March, and already we are well over the halfway point. It’s exciting to see such genuine support of this worthy cause."

Money generated from the campaign will allow the medical center to enlarge and renovate several areas of the hospital, including the ICU, the laboratory, and the physical therapy and occupational therapy departments.

Two of these donors also took advantage of naming opportunities in the intensive care unit: a respiratory therapy room will be named for Tom and Dianne Latimer and a consulting room for Ramsey-Weeks.

"We believe so strongly in our medical center and we wanted to continue our support. I served on the board of trustees for nine years, one year as the chair. I learned so much in that position. Tom and I believe that GRMC is one of the things that make Grinnell the unique and wonderful place that it is. It’s just one of the greatest causes here in Grinnell," says Dianne Latimer of ASI-Modulex’s decision to participate in the Blueprint for Health campaign.

ASI, along with the Cranstons, the Lindens, and Ramsey-Weeks, all supported GRMC’s first capital campaign, the Building on Excellence.

For the decision makers at Ramsey-Weeks—Rick Ramsey, Jim Ramsey, and Paul Pohlson—it was a unanimous decision to support GRMC’s campaign.

"The medical center helps drive economic growth. It’s a selling point for the community when talking with other industries and companies that are thinking of locating here," Jim Ramsey says.

His father and business partner says, "We’re very pleased that we can make this gift. The community has been good to us and we’re happy we can give back to the hospital."

Making a difference to the community also played a role in the Cranston’s decision to support the campaign.

"Linda and I have been around hospitals all our adult lives," says Dr. David Cranston, vice-president for medical staff affairs and emergency department director at GRMC. "We realize the importance of a hospital to the health of a community. A good hospital attracts businesses to the community. It’s an economic issue and a quality of life issue."

"GRMC is personally meaningful to Kellie and me," says Todd C. Linden, president and CEO of GRMC. "I’m proud to lead this organization and believe firmly in the difference that the Blueprint for Health campaign will make to our healthcare providers when serving our patients. Our family has experienced great care from the employees and physicians at GRMC. We believe our gift will give these talented individuals the space they need to do their jobs effectively."

"There is a Native American proverb that you do not inherit the land from your forefathers but you borrow it from your children," says Dr. Arnold, who is also a member of the GRMC board of trustees. "We truly believe that an investment in the medical center is an investment into the future."

GRMC Receives Six Major Gifts to Campaign
Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Blueprint for Health campaign has reached the $4.6 million mark thanks to six different $25,000 gifts from Grinnell residents and local businesses.

Combined, the following five donors and an anonymous donor have swelled the campaign total by $150,000:

"We are very grateful to these businesses and individuals for stepping forward with such generous gifts," says Todd Nelson, vice-president and CFO at GRMC. "Their donations will provide vital support for the work we are doing to expand the emergency room, the volunteer center, the surgery suites, and more."

The donors, who all also supported the Building on Excellence Campaign, each had a personal or professional reason for donating to the medical center’s most ambitious fund-raising campaign in its history.

One of these donors—Ken Benda—is a past member of the medical center’s board of trustees and a current member of the foundation board. Two donors—Dave Vander Linden and Sue Witt—are current members of the hospital’s board.

"We feel fortunate to have a hospital of this caliber in Grinnell," says Lucille Benda. "It not only provides good service to the people of the surrounding area, but also provides employment for many. Both of us have had excellent care from the nurses and doctors. By the continued support of this community, we hope to keep this good service available for many years."

Sue and Mike Witt attest that there are many good reasons for supporting the medical center.

"It’s important to have a high quality healthcare facility. It’s one of the pieces of the puzzle that makes this community special," Sue Witt says. "We’re also hoping that our gift will prompt others to give as well."

Lynnville Mayor Dave Vander Linden adds that the medical center is also important to the vibrancy of surrounding communities.

"My family and I have always appreciated GRMC’s efforts to provide healthcare services close to home. The medical center partnered with the community of Lynnville two years ago to bring a medical clinic to the community. That partnership is crucial to the Lynnville community, and it’s important to have a strong hospital close by. The leadership team at GRMC truly strives to make sure that healthcare is here for those who need it in a six county area. Our gift to the medical center is meant to help them make that happen," Vander Linden says.

Donaldson Company is supporting the Blueprint for Health campaign "because it’s important in a community this size to have a hospital with quality healthcare," says Bill Baird, plant manager.

"Donaldson’s employs 221 people here in Grinnell and it is crucial that our employees and their families have a medical center close by," he says.

"For more than 50 years Donaldson has been a part of the Grinnell community. This gift to the hospital is a continuation of our commitment to the community. On behalf of Donaldson employees, we’re happy to be able to make this gift," Baird says.

For more information about the Blueprint for Health campaign, contact Mindy Schroeder, director of development, at 641-236-2961.

ER to be Named for Montezuma Family
Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s emergency department will bear the name "Brownell Emergency and Trauma Center" thanks to the generosity of a Montezuma businessman.

Frank Brownell recently contributed $250,000 to GRMC’s $8.2 million Blueprint for Health campaign, which is funding improvements and renovations to the medical center complex.

"We’ve got the best healthcare facility between Iowa City and Des Moines. If I can help make it even better, I’m going to. I was raised in the tradition that if you have the ability to help, you do," Brownell says. "This is a way to make sure everyone in our area has access to the best possible emergency medical care when they need it."

Brownell decided to fund the Blueprint for Health emergency room renovations because "it’s the first contact many people have with the hospital. It’s where they go when they urgently need help. The ER has a great crew. The healthcare practitioners are marvelous. They are sharp, bright, and quick. Most importantly, they are very caring and compassionate. There is a lot of pressure on staff to react quickly and correctly there. It’s a high pressure environment."

Because of that "it’s where we want to be sure we have the best conditions for medical care. The ER is already a great place. It’s just going to get better," says Brownell, who is a member of GRMC’s board of trustees.

Once renovations are completed, the Brownell Emergency and Trauma Center will boast six exam rooms, four trauma bays, and more state-of-the-art equipment. The additional space and equipment will allow GRMC to serve patients more efficiently and effectively.

"Each year, more than 10,000 patients use GRMC’s emergency room," says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. "This significant contribution will be greatly appreciated by thousands of people every year when they turn to GRMC to save their lives, mend broken bones, and help with urgent care issues."

"The Brownell family has always supported healthcare in the greater Poweshiek County area," Linden adds. "This gift to GRMC demonstrates Frank’s generous heart."

Brownell and his late wife, Nancy, also contributed to GRMC’s Building on Excellence campaign, the annual fund, and the Lynnville Medical Clinic. Brownell is also a member of the GRMC Legacy Club.

Brownell has been involved with his family’s business, Brownells, Inc., since 1964, and a member of the Montezuma City Council since 1965. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism/advertising. After college, Brownell was stationed aboard the USS Caliente, home ported in California and Oregon with the United States Navy. He and Nancy have three adult sons.

Areas set for expansion and renovation under the Blueprint for Health campaign include the physical and occupational therapy, emergency, intensive care, surgery, cardiopulmonary, and laboratory departments. The campaign will also allow the medical center to create a new auxiliary gift shop and make needed enhancements to the hospital’s technology infrastructure.

"It will take a lot of donors for the medical center’s campaign to be successful, Brownell says. "It’s important for people to give at whatever level they can."

Grinnell Couple Donates $25,000 to GRMC
When visitors come to Grinnell, one of the first places Max Smith, 85, takes them to tour is Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

"There is certainly something special about the hospital from his point of view," says Nancy Smith, Max’s wife of almost seven years.

The couple recently pledged $25,000 to GRMC’s Blueprint for Health campaign. When it is completed, a room in the new Brownell Emergency and Trauma Center will be named the Max A. and Nancy R. Smith Exam Room in their honor.

"Max needed to use the emergency room a few years ago and we thought a lot of people would benefit from a new and expanded emergency room," Nancy says.

The $8.2 million Blueprint for Health campaign will help fund the renovations and expansions of GRMC’s emergency, surgery, intensive care, physical and occupational therapy, laboratory, and cardiopulmonary departments. Campaign funds will also be used to expand the auxiliary gift shop and volunteer workroom and enhance automated technology capabilities. The medical center has already used Blueprint for Health donations to complete the Candace Packard Lambie Intensive Care Unit and construction on the surgery renovations has begun.

The gift from the Smiths qualifies for a matching grant from an anonymous donor who is matching every new gift or pledge to the Blueprint for Health campaign of $1,000 or more up to a total of $750,000. So far, donations have matched more than $320,000 of the $750,000.

"Nancy and Max are leaving an important legacy to the area with their gift to GRMC," says Mindy Schroeder, director of development. "Each year, more than 10,000 people use our emergency room. We will all benefit from the enhanced services made possible through gifts from donors such as Nancy and Max."

Over the years, Max’s family used the hospital. His two children were born here. Max had surgery here under the careful watch of Dr. Victor Wilson. In addition, his first wife, Delores "Deke" Smith, was a longtime hospital volunteer. She was also a patient at GRMC and Grinnell Regional Hospice before her death.

Max retired in August 1983 as president of the Poweshiek County National Bank in Grinnell after 33 years with the Brenton Bank organization. He began his affiliation with the bank in 1950 as an officer trainee. In 1959, he was elected to the board of directors of the Grinnell bank and several years later to the presidency. An Iowa State University graduate, he was active in community affairs and was a past president of the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce. At retirement, he was a treasurer and board member of the Grinnell Area Arts Council and the Grinnell Historical Museum Society and a board member of the Greater Grinnell Development Corporation. He grew up near Marshalltown and is past president of Mayflower Residents Association. He was also a Grinnell Regional Hospice volunteer and served on the GRMC board of trustees from 1984 to 1987.

Smith also served in the Army for four years, earning a Purple Heart for his efforts in the Battle of the Bulge.

Nancy serves on the board of the Poweshiek County Mental Health Center and is on GRMC’s Senior Education Program steering committee. She is a member of the Tuesday Club, Pi Rho Lambda, DAR, and AAUW. Before retiring to Grinnell, Nancy was a professor of psychology and counseling for almost 30 years at Central Missouri State University.

Nancy and Max were married in 1997 after meeting at an Elderhostel program in Mobile, Ala. When they were courting, Max took her to tour the hospital on one of her first visits to Grinnell.

Wells Fargo Deposits $25,000 with Medical Center
Wells Fargo has taken Grinnell Regional Medical Center's Blueprint for Health campaign to the next stage with a $25,000 donation toward renovating the new emergency and trauma center.

"Wells Fargo has always been committed to giving back to our communities," says Michael Allen, community bank president. "Even though we are a national organization, we are locally run. The hospital plays an integral part in not only sustaining, but growing our community."

The Grinnell Wells Fargo bank is one of 3,023 Wells Fargo banks in the nation and currently has 20 employees. Every day in 2002, Wells Fargo gave more than $224,000 to the communities it serves.
The $8.2 million Blueprint for Health campaign will help fund the renovations and expansions of GRMC's emergency, surgery, intensive care, physical and occupational therapy, laboratory, and cardiopulmonary departments. Campaign funds will also be used to expand the auxiliary gift shop and volunteer workroom and enhance automated technology capabilities.

The medical center has already used Blueprint for Health donations to complete the Candace Packard Lambie Intensive Care Unit and construction on the surgery renovations has begun.

When it is completed, an exam room in the new Brownell Emergency and Trauma Center will be named the Wells Fargo Exam Room in appreciation of the financial institution's contribution.

"It's easy for our residents to take the hospital for granted...until you need it. Then it becomes priceless. There is peace of mind in knowing that it is there. We need a good healthcare provider, and not just in times of emergencies," Allen says.

The Wells Fargo pledge has also leveraged another $25,000 in matching funds from an anonymous donor who is matching all gifts and pledges to the campaign of $1,000 or more up to a total of $750,000.

"We are grateful to Wells Fargo for supporting our mission of keeping healthcare close to home," says Mindy Schroeder, GRMC director of development. "Their gift will ensure that the 10,000 patients who use the emergency room annually will continue to receive the best care possible."

Montezuma Gifts Take GRMC Campaign Over $5 Million
Almost 100 Montezuma area residents and businesses have kicked in $480,000 to Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s $8.2 million Blueprint for Health campaign, including $15,000 commitments from Peoples Savings Bank and Montezuma Telephone and Cable Co.

GRMC launched the Blueprint for Health campaign in Montezuma, Deep River, Barnes City, and Gibson in June after debuting in Grinnell in March.

Since March 27, an anonymous donor has offered a matching grant opportunity to GRMC. All gifts and/or three-year pledges of $1,000 or greater to the Blueprint for Health campaign are being matched dollar for dollar up to a total match of $750,000.

Montezuma area donations that qualified for matching gifts brought in an additional $82,422 to the campaign, bringing the Montezuma area total to $560,000 and the Blueprint for Health campaign total to $5.2 million.

"We’re just thrilled with the outpouring of support we have received from area residents for our capital campaign projects," says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. "The matching gift program is a great way for donors to double the size of their gifts and make a difference to the 47,000 people in the GRMC service area. There is still almost $400,000 available in matching funds, which when achieved will bring us even closer to our final goal of keeping quality healthcare services close to home."

The donations from Peoples Savings Bank and Montezuma Telephone and Cable Co. both qualified for the matching gift. In addition, rooms at the medical center will be named after each of these businesses to recognize their contributions.

"Through our giving program, we try to donate where it will help a lot of people," says Francis Freeborn, general manager of the Montezuma phone company. "Hundreds of people from the Montezuma area use GRMC for their healthcare needs. And I know for myself that when I need healthcare services, I want the best facility there can be. I also think that having GRMC nearby probably saves a lot of lives."

The consultation room in the Candace Packard Lambie Intensive Care Unit will be named for the phone company.

Freeborn and his wife, Linda, are serving as division leaders for the Blueprint for Health campaign in Montezuma. In addition, Linda sits on the GRMC Auxiliary board.

A pre- and post-op room in the new surgery department will be named in honor of the Peoples Savings Bank/Arendt and Bolen Families.

"Bill and my wife, Lea, have served on the GRMC board of trustees in the past," says Richard Arendt, co-owner of the bank with Bill Bolen. "We thought the need for the continuing improvement of the hospital was necessary for the community. We simply wanted to contribute to help the program succeed."

Arendt and his wife, Lea, are also serving as division leaders for the Blueprint for Health campaign in Montezuma. Lea is also a past member of the GRMC foundation board.

Over the next year the campaign will spread in waves to other communities in the GRMC service area, including New Sharon, Lynnville, Sully, Tama, Toledo, Montour, LeGrand, Brooklyn, Victor, and Guernsey.

GRMC Awarded Grant from Monsanto Fund
Grinnell Regional Medical Center has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund to support the medical center’s $8.2 million Blueprint for Health campaign.

Because the Monsanto grant has also elicited another $25,000 in matching funds from an anonymous donor, the campaign total now exceeds $5.3 million.

The Monsanto Fund, located in St. Louis, was established in 1964 as the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, which has a plant in Grinnell. The fund’s mission has always been about meaningful charitable giving, with an emphasis on the communities where its employees live and work.

"GRMC’s project fits the mission real well and we felt it was important to support it. Monsanto’s Grinnell site has 30 full-time employees and this number increases with seasonal work such as detasseling and harvest to include more than 100 full-time employees and 800 part-time employees. They need good, accessible healthcare," says Al Henderson, plant manager of Monsanto Seed in Grinnell, who recommended the project to the Monsanto Fund.

GRMC’s Blueprint for Health campaign will help fund the renovations and expansions of the medical center’s emergency, surgery, intensive care, physical and occupational therapy, laboratory, and cardiopulmonary departments. Campaign funds will also be used to expand the auxiliary gift shop and volunteer workroom and enhance automated technology capabilities. The medical center has already used Blueprint for Health donations to complete the Candace Packard Lambie Intensive Care Unit and construction on the surgery renovations has begun.

When it is completed, the new volunteer room at GRMC will bear Monsanto’s name. Henderson is delighted about that.

"I’ve been a patient at GRMC and it has always amazed me what the volunteers do. They greet people and take them to where they need to be. They make so many things possible at GRMC, it’s nice to know that we are supporting their work," he says.

This is not the first time that the Monsanto Fund has supported projects in Grinnell, which is home to one of the Monsanto Company’s 10 sites in Iowa. Monsanto has also supported the Grinnell Fire Department and the new bike trail project.

"Monsanto’s grant to GRMC is a wonderful example of the company’s commitment to communities," says Mindy Schroeder, GRMC director of development. "We are very fortunate to have such an asset in Poweshiek County."

Lynnville Bank Gift Moves Campaign Past $5.4 Million
First State Bank of Lynnville has contributed $25,000 to Grinnell Regional Medical Center's $8.2 million Blueprint for Health campaign, taking the campaign total to $5,427,984.

"One of our primary reasons for making this donation is because GRMC has made a commitment to our community by supporting our local medical clinic. We feel this is an important service that we want to continue. We also recognize that fund drives like the Blueprint for Health campaign are necessary in order to maintain a quality healthcare facility such as GRMC in our area," says Bryce Gause, bank president, who is also volunteering to raise funds for the campaign in the Lynnville area.

The decision to support the campaign was made unanimously by the members of the bank board of directors.

The bank also supported the Lynnville Medical Clinic with a $10,000 donation in 2000. The family practice clinic, an affiliate of GRMC, was opened by the medical center in 2000.

Since March 27, an anonymous donor has offered a matching grant opportunity to GRMC. All gifts or three-year pledges of $1,000 or greater to the Blueprint for Health campaign are being matched dollar for dollar up to a total match of $750,000. There is still almost $300,000 available in matching funds to the campaign.

The donation from First State Bank of Lynnville qualified for the matching gift, and an exam room in the medical center's new emergency department will be named for this business to recognize the contribution.

"The matching gift influenced our decision to give to the campaign," Gause says. "It really does double our gift. That's nice to know."

Combined $50,000 Gift To Benefit GRMC’s Capital Campaign
Baldwin White Architects and Taylor Construction Group, both of Des Moines, have each contributed $25,000 to Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Blueprint for Health campaign. Both firms have a longstanding business relationship with the medical center. The $8.2 million campaign is funding improvements and renovations to the medical center complex.

"Baldwin White Architects and Taylor Construction Group have designed and constructed, respectively, the renovation of the intensive care unit and the surgery suites," says Jeff Davis, director of facilities management at GRMC. "Both companies do outstanding work and have an excellent reputation in their field. They are great partners. We certainly appreciate their financial commitment to the capital campaign."

One of the medical center’s new operating suites will be named for Taylor Construction Group while the waiting room in the intensive care unit will honor Baldwin White Architects.

Baldwin White has designed many other additions at GRMC including the Ahrens Medical Arts Building, the Mitchell Meditation Room, the Tomasek Conference Center, the Kintzinger Women’s Health Center, and others.

Among the GRMC projects Taylor Construction Group has built are Deer Creek Health Center, the dialysis center at Postels Community Health Park, and the patient care wing.

"GRMC is an asset that needs to be supported. The organization is a good community citizen that provides a positive economic impact within a rural setting," says Jack Taylor, who has been a partner of Taylor Construction Group for 28 years.

A native of Creston, Iowa, Taylor believes in Iowa’s sentiment of helping one another. He has a personal desire to make Iowa a better place to live. He wants to contribute to its economic success, especially in rural areas where making a living can be difficult.

"Our state has many elderly residents who live in rural areas. They need good medical care from hospitals like GRMC," Taylor adds.

Headquartered in Des Moines, Taylor Construction Group also maintains offices in Cedar Rapids and Davenport. They have additional offices in Kansas City, Mo.; Temecula, Calif.; Denver; San Diego; and Las Vegas.

Kevin White, one of two partners at Baldwin White Architects, said his firm has worked with GRMC since the mid-1990s. Founded in 1984, Baldwin White designs projects for commercial, institutional, and residential sectors in central Iowa.

"We have enjoyed a wonderful working relationship with GRMC and its administrators. They have supported us for many years so it just made sense to jump in and support the Blueprint for Health campaign," White says.

Areas set for expansion and renovation under the Blueprint for Health campaign include physical and occupational therapy, emergency, intensive care, surgery, cardiopulmonary, and laboratory departments. The campaign will also allow the medical center to create a new auxiliary gift shop and make needed enhancements to the hospital’s technology infrastructure.

"Baldwin White and Taylor Construction are exemplary businesses who have contributed to the hospital’s expansion for many years. We certainly appreciate their philanthropic support of GRMC," says Todd C. Linden, president and CEO of GRMC. "Generous gifts like these make it possible for the medical center to meet the healthcare needs of the communities we serve."

Orville and Loanna Bloethe Offer $50,000 for Blueprint for Health Campaign
In an effort to preserve one of central Iowa’s finest healthcare assets, Orville and Loanna Bloethe of Victor have committed $50,000 to Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s Blueprint for Health campaign. The $8.2 million campaign is funding improvements and renovations to the medical center complex.

"It has been a tremendous experience to see what GRMC has in the caliber of its staff and in the quality of its modern equipment and technology. Now the hospital needs the expanded facilities to match," says Orville Bloethe, who serves on the medical center’s foundation board of directors. Orville and his wife Loanna were active on the steering committee in Victor to build the satellite clinic in 2002. Now known as the Victor Health Center, the family medicine clinic is operated by GRMC. They are currently division leaders on the steering committee for the Blueprint for Health campaign in Victor.

The Bloethes also believe it is important to preserve quality healthcare in central Iowa. "Without GRMC in Grinnell and the many contributors in Victor, the clinic here would not exist," he adds. "Loanna and I believe it is important to preserve what we have. We encourage other Victor residents to consider a gift to the Blueprint for Health campaign."

Loanna adds, "We have been very happy with the entire staff at Victor Health Center. Everyone from the receptionist to the physician is friendly and competent. We have been blessed with good people."

In appreciation for their gift, GRMC has named a room in honor of the Bloethes in the new Candace Packard Lambie Intensive Care Unit. In addition, another room will be named in memory of Orville’s brother, Leonard, who was killed in action in

Normandy on June 16, 1944, at the age of 23. He was a member of the 507th Parachute Infantry, 82nd "All American" Airborne Division.

Orville Bloethe, 85, was born and raised in Victor. The eldest of three sons, Orville’s father died of lockjaw when Orville was just 3-years-old. The three boys and their mother spent their early years with Orville’s uncle, Walter Bloethe. All three boys paid their way through college at the University of Iowa.

After obtaining his law degree, Bloethe returned to Victor, where he still practices law, often working evenings when it is quiet. He specializes in tax, family, and business law, and is the co-author of "The Tax Manual" used at the Iowa Bar Association’s tax school. He has served as the board secretary for the Victor school district since the early 1960s and was the Victor city attorney for 52 years.

The Bloethes have four children: Cheryl, Chris, Craig, and Tamia. They also have seven grandchildren.

"The Bloethes have always been committed to GRMC and to quality, compassionate healthcare in Victor. They are deeply rooted in their community, and they have a strong desire to support Victor," says Mindy Schroeder, GRMC director of development. "We appreciate the leadership the Bloethes continue to show toward GRMC. The medical center is able to make enhancements to several key areas because of generous gifts from people like the Bloethes."

Areas that will be expanded and renovated in the future as a part of the Blueprint for Health campaign include physical and occupational therapy, emergency, cardiopulmonary, and laboratory departments. The campaign will also allow the medical center to create a new auxiliary gift shop and make needed enhancements to the hospital’s technology infrastructure. Renovation has already been completed on the intensive care unit and the Warren H. Bower Surgery Center.