Secretary Designee Kolar Message
Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove
September 2019
Inside this issue:
Commandant’s 2
Welcome Aboard 3/4
Birthday List 5
Wish List/Events 6
Volunteers Needed 7
Crossword Puzzle 8
Word Search/Sudoku 9
H o me f ro n t
N e ws l e t t e r
As summer winds down, and we are about to embark on the beauty of the fall season, I want to update you on WDVA
activities these past months.
I’ve enjoyed traveling throughout the state to listen to WDVA employees, Members, families and other stakeholders.
Many have shared their vision for the future of our veterans’ homes and how we can make positive changes and adjust for
a sustainable future. About 80 percent of what we do at the WDVA involves our three veterans homes. With that in mind,
we are looking deeper into the changing demands of the long-term care industry and trends in consumer expectations.
We’re also keeping state and federal regulatory requirements in mind.
Please join me in welcoming Natalie Rolling-Edlebeck as the new Commandant of our Veterans Home at Union Grove.
Natalie brings her leadership and healthcare experience to our Union Grove campus including more than two decades of service in the U.S. Army. She
and her husband, Martin, have two sons and a daughter who are all very excited to return to Wisconsin.
Natalie has a long history in both long-term care and serving the veteran population, most recently working as an executive director at our Veterans
Home at King — the largest of our three campuses. In addition to overseeing our operations at Union Grove, her duties as Commandant will include
taking the results of recent surveys and making changes that are necessary for us to continue providing quality care and customer service to our veterans.
I am excited for Natalie, her family, our incredible staff, and our Union Grove Members and their families. I am confident that Natalie will continue our
work toward an improved workplace for all of our team members.
I am also pleased to let you know that our Union Grove campus will be restarting both our Caregivers Support Group, as well as the Family Council. We
will have more information on those initiatives in the coming months.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and the beginning of our fall season!
Yours in Service,
Mary M. Kolar
WDVA Secretary-designee
Inside this issue:
A Note from Natalie/Member Outing
2
Welcome Aboard 3-7
Grief Support Group
Birthday List
8
Wish List/Upcoming Events 9
Volunteer Opportunities 11
Silver Lake Garbage
Can Cookout & Bingo A NOTE FROM NATALIE
Hello everyone,
I am Natalie Jewel Rolling-Edlebeck, a
native Texan and United Army veteran.
I am the daughter of Nathaniel and the
late Laurene Rolling of Houston, Texas.
My husband Martin Edlebeck of
(Goodman, Wisconsin) also an Army
veteran met 1989, while both assigned
to 97th Signal Battalion, Mannheim
Germany.
We are blessed with three amazing
kids, two sons and a daughter. Our old-
est Benjamin attends graduate school at
Tarleton State University in Stephen-
ville, Texas. Our daughter Christina
attends undergraduate school at Texas
A&M College Station, Texas. Our
youngest, Noah attends All Saints
Catholic School in Kenosha.
It is an honor to serve our veterans and
families, while working side by side
with wonderful employees.
My hobbies are spending time with my family and having an appreciation
for all seasons. I love gospel music but I can’t sing…..
Thanks and God Bless!
Peace be with you,
Natalie Jewel
Welcome Aboard!!
Page 3
Please welcome
our new Members
and Volunteers to
the Veterans
Home . Feel free to
stop by and
introduce
yourself ,we are so
happy to have
them here.
Thomas Andersen
Navy-World War II
Birthplace: Racine, WI
Occupation: Retired Manager - Racine Consumers Co-op
Patrick Brophy
Air Force-Vietnam War
Birthplace: St. Louis, MO
Occupation: Retired Sales Manager
William Fendel
Air Force-Vietnam War
Birthplace: Kenosha, WI
Occupation: Retired C.O.T.A.
Welcome Aboard!!
Page 4
Please welcome
our new Members
and Volunteers to
the Veterans
Home . Feel free to
stop by and
introduce
yourself ,we are so
happy to have
them here.
Bruce Ford
Army-Korean War
Birthplace: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Retired Insurance Claims/Sales & Bank Mail Room
Frank Kloss Jr.
Air Force-Peace Time
Birthplace: Milwaukee, WI
Occupation: Retired Welder
William Kolsch
Air Force-Peace Time
Birthplace: Milwaukee, WI
Occupation: Retired HVAC Worker
Welcome Aboard!!
Page 5
Please welcome
our new Members
and Volunteers to
the Veterans
Home . Feel free to
stop by and
introduce
yourself ,we are so
happy to have
them here.
Kenneth Mandy
Air Force-Peace Time
Birthplace: Milwaukee, WI
Occupation: Retired Charter Fisherman
Lawrence McCann
Marine-Vietnam War
Birthplace: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Retired Tree Trimmer
Willie McLain
Marine-World War II
Birthplace: Enterprise, MS
Occupation: Retired Custodian Supervisor
Welcome Aboard!!
Page 6
Please welcome
our new Members
and Volunteers to
the Veterans
Home . Feel free to
stop by and
introduce
yourself ,we are so
happy to have
them here.
James Mundschau
Army-Korean War
Birthplace: Dousman, WI
Occupation: Retired Draftsman/Product Designer
James Nelson Sr.
Army-World War II
Birthplace: Benton Harbor, MI
Occupation: Retired Public Relations
Robert Schleis
Marine-World War II & Korean War
Birthplace: Manitowoc, WI
Occupation: Retired Structural Engineer
Welcome Aboard!!
Page 7
Please welcome
our new Members
and Volunteers to
the Veterans
Home . Feel free to
stop by and
introduce
yourself ,we are so
happy to have
them here.
Chester Swiderski
Air Force-World War II
Birthplace: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Retired Electronics Technician
Duane VanWie
Marine-World War II
Birthplace: Kenosha, WI
Occupation: Operating Engineer
Claude Wells
Navy-Vietnam War
Birthplace: Waukesha, WI
Occupation: Retired Chef
Page 8
You are invited to attend a Grief Support Seminar on Tuesday,
September 24, at either 10:00am in the Maurer Hall Chapel OR at
6:30pm at Cross Lutheran Church, 126 Chapel Terrace, Burlington.
Topic of Presentation: Appreciate Your Transformation.
Happy Birthday!!!
September 4th– David Knabel-1st
September 6th– Joseph Salva-2nd
September 7th– William Kolsch-2nd
September 8th– Richard Binder-GH
September 10th– Leonard Lewins-GH
September 12th– Edwin Purvis-1st
September 13th– Christine Brace-2nd
September 13th– Joy Kras-GH
September 15th– Herman Spencer-2nd
September 15th– Ivory Young-GH
September 17th - Eugene Barrette-1st
September 17th - Francis Potter-3rd
September 19th - Richard Drumel-2nd
September 19th - Thomas West-3rd
September 21st - Roland Gill-3rd
September 21st - Fredrick Heusdens-FH
September 22nd - David Moran-FH
September 24th - Robert Osenga-1st
Community Outings (admission tickets, parking etc.)
Gift Cards to NASCO senior living catalog
Monetary funds for activities supplies or special events
Fun size snack bars, bags of individually wrapped chocolate candy, Diet soda, small bags of chips
(for prizes)
Walmart gift cards
(for a complete list of items please visit: dva.wi.gov ->Veterans Home -> Union Grove ->
Media ->Union Grove Wish List.pdf )
Our Wish List
Upcoming Events
Page 9
September 11th - 911 Event
September 20th - POW/MIA Remembrance
October 31st - Halloween Festivities
November 11th - Veterans Day Remembrance at 11:00am
Decmber 6th - Pearl Habor Remembrance at 10:00am
December 14th - Annual Family Christmas Party
For Veteran’s Benefit questions or concerns, please contact:
Roxane Unverrich
262-878-6729
If you wish to recognize an employee for exceeding in their job, please fill out
an Employee of the Month Nomination Form located by the front reception desks
of Fairchild, Gates or Boland Hall or let the receptionist know so that they may
complete the form on your behalf.
Page 10
In-house Volunteer Opportunities – If you are interested in the following volunteer opportunities, please contact the Activity
and Volunteer Director, Terri Presser at 262-878-6725 or email at [email protected]
¨ Provide a movie night on 2nd & 3rd floor Boland Hall.
¨ We are in need of a volunteer to assist Members with simple computer tasks on a one-to-one basis.
¨ Maintain organization of the Fairchild Hall Library.
¨ Assist activity staff with Member outings.
¨ Escort Members to Happy Hour on Fridays at 2:00pm.
¨ Escort Members to bingo on Tuesdays at 2:00pm.
¨ Switch out seasonal bulletin boards.
¨ Assist with writing Member’s stories for their Memories in the Making art projects.
¨ Play Monopoly, poker, or UNO with 2nd floor Members.
¨ Water and weed plants during gardening season.
¨ Assist Fairchild Hall Members with menu completion-Thursday afternoons.
¨ Assist with Open Art projects on Wednesday from 1:00-3:00pm.
Building: Where To: Date/Time: Volunteers Needed:
Boland Hall-1st Floor Lunch—TBD
Walmart
Friday, September 6th 10:45am
Monday,, September 9th 1:00pm
5-6
1-2
Boland Hall – 2nd Floor Walmart
Lunch—TBD
Monday, September 16th 1:00pm
Wednesday, September 18th 10:45am
5-6
1-2
Boland Hall-3rd Floor Walmart Monday, September 23rd 1:00pm 5-6
Gates Hall Out for Breakfast
Walmart
Friday, September 27th 8:00am
Monday, September 30th 1:00pm
1-2
3-4
Fairchild Hall
All Campus Event
Lucky Star Lunch
Walmart
Fishing at Bong State Park
Harvest Days @ Old Settlers
SRB Free Lunch
Walmart
VA Voices Choir Concert
Wednesday, September 4th 11:00am
Monday, September 9th 1:00pm
Wednesday, September 11th 9:00am
Friday, September 13th 1:30pm
Thursday, September 26th 11:20am
Monday, September 30th 1:00pm
Friday, September 13th 9:30am
1-2
1-2
1-2
3-4
1-2
1-2
Many—assist with
escort to and from
Page 11
Department of Veterans Affairs
Wisconsin Veterans Home at UG
21425G Spring St
Union Grove, WI 53182
WWW.dva.wi.gov
One of our major responsibilities at the Wis-consin Department of Veterans Affairs is
providing 24-hour skilled nursing care to our nation's heroes. The WDVA is proud of the three Veterans’ homes we operate –
Chippewa Falls, King and Union Grove - serving nearly 1,000 Veterans and their spouses.
The Wisconsin Veterans Homes are among the best in the country, boasting an excel-
lent safety record and the highest quality of care ratings. Our homes are very popular among Wisconsin's Veterans, evidenced by
the occupancy levels and waiting lists asso-ciated with each home, and our staff reten-tion rates that exceed those of comparable
facilities across the state. We are here to serve those who have
served us all.