FALL 2019

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. — Romans 8:28

In our 2018 Annual Report, we pictured hands outstretched

with people showing love to others. The picture is a reminder that Fairhaven exists to serve others and to show love and compassion to those who entrust us with their care. We continue to be blessed with families who want to call Fairhaven their home. We anticipate a total of 15 new move-ins in 2019 to our duplexes. Our duplex occupancy is the highest it has been in over 10 years. Thank you to each of you who are connected to Fair-haven or wish to be connected sometime in the future.

As my first year as Executive Director comes to a close and I excitedly look forward to leading Fairhaven in 2020, I reflect upon this year’s accomplishments. Certainly the first reflection is the nearly 12 acres of adjacent land and a house that Fairhaven purchased this year. We will determine soon how we can best

Välkommen Hem(Welcome Home)

Jim & Ulla Olson find a fit at FairhavenJim and Ulla Olson were

married in 1968, the same year Fairhaven opened. Since moving into their duplex on Rolling Meadow Lane this past May, they have quickly

immersed themselves in the community here.

Jim was born and raised in Chicago, where his parents were Salvation Army pastors. His grandparents immigrated

JEFF REIERSONExecutive Director

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fCHRISTIAN RETIREMENT CENTERFAIRHAVEN

Who We AreFairhaven Christian Retirement Center

is a not-for-profit corporation governed by a board of directors. Guided by a licensed executive team and a very capable administrative team, its highly trained and dedicated staff offers each resident the finest in retirement living and nursing care. Fairhaven is an affiliate ministry of the Great Lakes District Free Church.

Our MissionTo provide a comfortable lifestyle and

exceptional care which enhances quality of life in a manner that glorifies God.

Our Core Values• Serve the physical, emotional and

spiritual needs with an eternal perspective.

• Maintain ethical practices consistent with God’s word.

• Assure honesty and integrity in all of our relationships.

• Affirm the worth and dignity of all whom we serve and employ.

• Honor the sanctity of human life.• Grow with focus and purpose

based on sound financial management.

• Pursue innovation and excellence to meet the challenges of a changing environment.

Contact UsFairhaven Christian Retirement Center3470 North Alpine RoadRockford, IL 61114815-877-1441info@fairhaven.ccwww.fairhaven.cc

© 2019, Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center

FALL 2019

A conversation with ...

Keith Pennington,Director of Finance Keith and his wife, Dawn, live in

Loves Park near Rock Cut State Park. Their blended family has five children (all married) and nine grandchildren. Keith and Dawn are part of North-east Christian Church. Keith has lived in Rockford for 37 years.What did you do for a living before this?

I was the CFO with the school district of Janesville, Wis. I’ve also worked in public accounting, manufacturing and health care. What attracted you to Fairhaven?

I was looking to move someplace that was more service oriented. The Christian atmosphere was im-portant to me. I knew of Fairhav-en, and I’ve known Jeff Reierson for close to 35 years. We worked together at a CPA firm back in the 1980s. I went to First Free for a while, so we kept in touch there, and periodically we would see each other around town. What has surprised you here so far?

The most pleasant surprise has been the welcoming way the residents have reacted to me. I thought it would just be … There’s the new guy in the office. Hi. How are you doing? But it’s more like: Oh, nice to meet you. You must be Keith. How’s the job going?What else has been different?

As Jeff and Carol (Reierson) have told me, “You’re working in their home. You’re part of their

lives.” When I see the residents here, I can relate. I know how I want my mom to be treated and I know how she treats the people at the assisted living facility where she lives. It’s not the same as just seeing what your hard work goes into. I’ve done that before, but it’s more than that here. You feel like you’re part of a community.Why did you want to work in a Christian atmosphere?

At my age and point in my career, I really wanted to do something of service to the Lord. Something I had talents for. I thought this would be a good way to use the gifts that God gave me in a posi-tive and direct manner. Was this job something you had envisioned ?

My wife and I prayed about doing something different. We never said, “retirement center.” You think you might have it all figured out, and then God places you where, in hindsight, you say, I would have never thought of that in a million years. And now that I am here, it’s perfect. I have learned that I should quit trying to out-think God.

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Antique Cars & Ice Cream Social On Aug. 23, we enjoyed the

beautiful weather at our annual Ice Cream Social and Antique Car Show. There were plenty of topping choices to enhance the three scoops of ice cream. Resi-dents also enjoyed the classic cars on display, and talking to the car owners — many reminiscing about the cars they once owned or rode in. We also enjoyed great music performed by Larry Higgs.

OktoberfestOn Oct. 4, we enjoyed our annual

Oktoberfest celebration. The entire campus was invited, with entertain-ment on each floor of the Health Center. You could choose to cele-brate with Ron Holm, and do the chicken dance. Or, you could enjoy entertainment featuring sing-alongs with Chip Messiner. While our residents enjoyed the musical per-formers, they also enjoyed root beer and soft, warm pretzels and cheese. Toes were tapping and hands were clapping.

Welcome New Residents • April15-September 2019Evans, John*Hollingsworth, Gary & Sally**Olson, James & Ulla**Ishii, Harriet*Palmer, Joyce*Howe, Janice*Klang, David*Johnson, Herbert*Nutley, Peter & Maureen**Peterson, Virginia*Gunderson, Margaret*Oehler, John & Donna**Gustafson, Daniel*Gross, William*Retzlaff, Audrey*

Gresenz, Janet*Murphy, Marjorie*Blough, Imogene*Larson, Daniel & Beverly**Oleson, Donald & Luaine**Rempert, Lois*Ortland, Jean*Manzullo, Donald & Freda**Remmers, Donald & Joyce*Molander, Donna*Johnson, Beth**

*Haven**Duplexes

Bridgeland, HaroldTreadway, RayGraham, MartinBirch, Roslyn,Nelson, John BertBonacorsi, GeorgieHoffman, BernieNelson, BethanyWalker, RobertRussian, KiyoDahlstrom, Beverly

Lansing, MargaretJacobson, AudreyTate, CatherineSnider, LaureenEvans, JohnBoettcher, DouglasBaggett, MarionOman, MaeRolander, RichardTerviel, LorraineBjornstad, Willard

Fairhaven holds quarterly Memorial Services to celebrate the lives of those "family members" who have passed away. They will be missed. Those who have passed away between April 14, 2019, and Sept. 30, 2019 are:

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Each fall, Fairhaven presents a Give-a-Gift project to those who love and support us. Our goal for this year is to raise $70,000, of which we already have a starter gift of $4,000.

As a result, we are excited to announce a bundle of amenities going into 2020 as the money becomes available. These will include, in this order:• A walking trail around the

newly acquired property;

• A long-awaited putting green; • A pickleball court. Pickleball

is a sport growing in interest nationally, even among seniors.Thank you also to everyone

who donated to the Give-a-Gift campaign last year. We will have our television system rewired and programming equipment up-graded before the end of this year. This will enhance reception and provide additional programming choices.

Give-a-Gift will yield new amenities

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Once a year, in the fall, Fairhav-en’s Maintenance staff thoroughly inspects each duplex to be sure everything is in safe, proper work-ing condition. Here’s a partial list of what our staff checks as part of our preventative maintenance service:

• Kitchens: refrigerator, stove, faucet, garbage disposal

• Bathrooms: toilets, faucets• Smoke and CO detectors, fire

extinguishers• Thermostat • Windows, including egress

windows • Basement: plumbing, furnace,

water heater, softener, sump pump, washer, dryer

• Electrical outlets and switches• Doorbell• Garage door• Weather stripping around front

and back doors.

Remodeled Dining RoomFairhaven gave the main dining room a beautiful facelift this summer, including new flooring and chairs.

Celebrating Independence On July 3, we celebrated our

nation’s freedom with our annual Independence Day event. The patriotic celebration was relo-cated to the Chapel due to rain, but that didn’t put a damper on the fun. With homeschool kids singing, a drum corps, patriotic special music by staff and bomb-pop treats to enjoy, everyone had plenty of fun.

Duplexes get preventative maintenanceMaintenance staff member Bill Lannon cleans dust from a refrigerator coil.

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Fairlaner Social On Aug. 8, Fairhaven hosted

nearly 100 residents of our duplex community for "Musical Mem-ories," highlighting classic mu-sicals from the 1930s-1950s. We enjoyed finding out how much we knew, or didn’t know, about these classics. A delicious feast was prepared by our dietary staff. Everyone enjoyed singing along with Kathy Schweiger and Karen Boeger, featuring songs from musicals like Carousel, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady and more.

In honor of our 50th anniversary last year, Fairhaven created a Commemorative 50th Anniversary Book. If you have not received a copy and would like one, please get in touch with us and we will be happy to mail one to you.

Motorcycles were an important part of Fairhaven resident Jim Ostrander’s life. They were so

important, in fact, that as his health failed this year he made a request. He wanted to sit on a motorcycle one last time.

On May 4, Jim got his wish — and then some.Jim’s daughter, Melissa Kehoe, collaborated with

Heartland Hospice and Fairhaven to set plans in motion. Then Lyle Brubaker responded to a request on social media, volunteering his sidecar not just for Jim to sit on, but to take a ride.

“Someone got a hold of me this week and said there is a guy that wants to go for a ride on a motorcycle and they needed a side car and I said ‘No problem. I’d be happy to do it,'” Lyle told WREX-TV news.

About 250 motorcylists showed up at Fairhaven on a beautiful Saturday morning to ride with Jim and Lyle. Many represented motorcycle clubs from around the area.

Thank you to Lyle; to Kelli, Rose and Tammy from Heartland Hospice; to the Rockford police and fire departments; and to our Fairhaven staff who are

amazing at making things happen! What an extraor-dinary day for Jim and his family.

Jim passed away in October, leaving that special last ride as a wonderful memory for all who knew him.

THE

LIFEOFHISRIDE

Holiday Events Veteran’s Day RecognitionFriday, Nov. 8, 2:30 p.m.

Honoring residents who served in our military. This program names each individual, and photos are displayed for all to recog-nize. Special music by our Fairhaven choir.

Thanksgiving ServiceWednesday, Nov. 27, 2:30 p.m.

Pastor David Petty will lead this service. God blesses us with so much. Let’s praise him for his trustworthy faithfulness.

Christmas Tree WalkTuesday, Dec. 17, 6:30-8 p.m.

We have 22 Christmas trees here at Fairhaven. Some of them themed and others are just simply beautiful. Come visit the public areas where our trees are on display.

Christmas ServiceMonday, Dec. 23, 2:30 p.m.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season and this ser-vice celebrates him. Pastor David Petty will lead, with Sue Bleed directing the choir.

Hollyberry Bazaar: Friday, Dec. 6Our annual Christmas shopping extravaganza! Thirty vendors will bring their products and wares. Cookies and coffee in the Family Room will help the Christmas spirit be felt all around. The event is open to the public from noon to 4. Lunch available from 11 to 1 in the Hospitality Court: Sloppy Joe, macaroni salad, potato chips and a drink, all for $5.

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here from Sweden. Ulla grew up in the city of Jönköping,

Sweden, in the southern province of Småland. She attended agricultural college — and also the Salvation Army Church. In 1967 she was seriously injured by falling off a horse. During her recuperation period, she traveled to Rockford to visit relatives. And, at a Salvation Army summer camp, she met Jim.

Ulla worked in banking for 32 years, and also has taught Swedish for Rock Valley Adult Education.

The Olsons lived 43 years in northwest Rockford. Jim served 30 years as band director at Kennedy and West middle schools. During summers, he worked as a painter. Upon retiring from teaching in 1999, he started a full-time painting business where he would work the next 20 years, retiring in early 2019. He’s also played trombone, euphonium and tuba in the Salvation Army band for many years.

They have two married children and three grandchildren. Both of their children are involved in Salvation Army Churches; their daughter and son-in-law are ordained pastors in the Salva-tion Army Church in Norridge, Ill.

Ulla returns to Sweden every year to visit relatives and friends. Today a painting of her grandparents’ farm hangs above their couch, next to a photo of Jim’s grandparents’ house in Sweden.How did you decide to move?

Jim: The yardwork was getting to be too much, and after 43 years there, things were wearing out. It was time to downsize. We wanted things taken care of, without having to worry about it. Plus, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2018 and had nine months

of treatment.Ulla: We downsized by 75 percent!

Jim’s parents both had been at the Health Center here, so we knew Fairhaven.

Jim: And we felt the Lord was leading us that way, too. When we sold our house in 12 days, we knew it was the right decision.What have you enjoyed about Fairhaven so far?

Ulla: We wanted to have Christian fellowship. We still have our church, but it’s nice to have Bible study and all of the programs. People are very accommodating and friendly. We have met really nice neighbors and friends. We have been to a movie, and some concerts. And picnics, of course.

We decided we’re going to live here, so we’re going to partake in things.What do you like about your duplex?

Jim: We looked at eight different duplexes. Some were much larger than we needed, but this one has been perfect. We even turned the deck into a screened porch.

Ulla: We have breakfast, lunch and dinner in the screened porch as long as the weather allows.

Välkommen Hem (Welcome Home)

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use this land to add more living space and amenities. Please pray for our admin-istrative team and the board of directors for vision, wisdom and guidance as we assess, plan, design and construct the next type of housing that will be a good fit for Fairhaven and our community.

My reflection on 2019 would not be complete without telling you how blessed I feel that Carol Reierson accepted my mar-riage proposal and we were wed on June 29. Thank you for all of your well wishes as we settle into our married life together.

Please contact us or stop in for more information about life at Fairhaven. If you would like a copy of our 2018 Annual Report, please ask for one in the office or contact us to mail one to you. Our continu-ing desire is to serve our residents and their families well and to bring God the glory.

I want to wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas. May you enjoy your family and friends throughout the hol-iday season as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

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Ulla, Jim and their Labradoodle, Nellie