The Mendota Lutheran Home was dedicated on Feb. 3, 1952 and welcomed its first two residents four days later. An MLH newsletter from that year includes pictures of the initial staff and residents. Standing, left to right, are Miner Menninga (resident), Mrs. Ruth Menninga, Mrs. John Johnson (housekeeping), Mr. John Johnson (building supervisor), Mrs. Pauline Kraeft (matron); seated, Mrs. Wilhelm, Mrs. Koch, Mrs. Bierwirth, and Christina Kliyla (resident). (Photo contributed)

MENDOTA - The Mendota Lutheran Home has a long history of providing care and a place to call home for the area’s senior citizens. This year, the facility will mark 65 years of service to Mendota and the surrounding area. 

To celebrate, the Mendota Lutheran Home is inviting the public to an open house event on Sunday, Nov. 5. A special church service will begin at 1 p.m. at St. Luke’s Chapel with Chaplain Kent Terry officiating. Then from 2-4 p.m., refreshments will be served and tours of the facility will be offered. Visitors are invited to stop in, reminisce with the collection of photographs that follow the Home’s journey over the past 65 years, and register for door prizes.

History

The idea for the Mendota Lutheran Home goes back to 1951 when there was a desire among citizens to have a retirement home in the area. At that time, the historic circa 1918 Harris Hospital in Mendota, although too small to function any longer as an actual hospital, was deemed to be a good site for a retirement home.

The hospital building was purchased that year for $36,400 through aid from a charity organization, the Evangelical Lutheran Society for Christian Charities. The following year on Feb. 3, 1952, the home for the aged was dedicated in a service at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mendota. A key-receiving ceremony was held on the steps of the home and four days later, the first residents, Christina Klylia of Mendota and Miner Menninga of Peoria were welcomed.

The retirement home was run by a “matron,” Pauline Kraeft, who lived on the first floor. She was assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, who provided housekeeping and maintenance and resided on the third floor of the building.

The following year, the Mendota Lutheran Home was incorporated with not-for-profit status. The first nine board members were Arthur G. Zimmerman of Compton, Rev. J.T. Meyer of LaMoille, Cora Schaefer of Franklin Grove, Rev. L.J. Grosshans of Compton, Emanuel Schlund of Princeton, Rev. Albert Heidmann of Mendota, Katherine Stein of Mendota, Ervin Stuepfert of LaMoille and Richard Betz of Mendota. In 1954, the facility became locally owned by 17 area Lutheran churches.

While the hospital building was a good starting point, the MLH board of directors envisioned a much larger facility and began acquiring properties to the east and north for future expansion. Plans for the first addition started as early as 1955 and eight years later in March 1963, a new two-story addition opened with about 1,200 people attending the open house dedication.

About 1,200 people attended a dedication and open house at the Mendota Lutheran Home’s new addition on March 10, 1963. Following a church service at St. John’s Lutheran Church, the congregation went to the Home for the raising of the flag by Mendota American Legion Auxiliary; greetings from Louis Koopersmith, mayor of Mendota; presentation of the key by contractor G. Lantz; and a dedicatory prayer by Rev. S.C. Liefeld of Peru. Following the dedication, tours of the Home were hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Zimmerman, with assistance from tour guides. Refreshments were served in the dining room.

Visitors were given tours of residents’ rooms as well as the Reck Memorial Office, named in honor of the late Judge B. Harry Reck, who was instrumental in starting MLH; the Harris Lounge, a memorial to Dr. and Mrs. O.P. Harris and a tribute to Dr. Charles O. Harris, located on the main floor; and St. Luke’s Chapel, given as a memorial to Veit C. and Emily Faber Schaller and Tollieve Weeks Schaller, given by Emma Schaller Millard. The chapel’s stained glass windows were a gift from William F. Schaller and Dr. C.H. Schaller.

The 1963 addition expanded the home’s capacity to 43 residents. At that time, the original building was also remodeled to provide a place for nursing care. In 1964, Katherine Stein became the first director of nursing.

With changes in the laws governing nursing homes that were enacted in the 1960s, the licensing of administrators became mandatory. In late 1965, Rev. Oscar Mikkelson became the first administrator of MLH. He was succeeded in 1968 by Pastor E.J. Haanstad.

The vision of a larger facility continued during the following years and in 1971, a center unit was dedicated. Five years later in the spring of 1976, the decision was made to demolish the old Harris Hospital building. Although this was a controversial decision, safety and fire code issues were major concerns. That fall, the old building was replaced by the north unit, which included an activity room and brought resident capacity to 100.

Pastor Earnest Serr took over as administrator in 1981 and two years later, a solarium, conference room, and employee lounge were added on the south side. Chris Csernus became administrator in 1994 and a west wing was added in 1995. Jon M. Ragsdale took over as administrator in 2010.

Current administrator, Michelle Urnikis started in 2016 and current director of nursing, Sheri Bowne began in 2015. The Mendota Lutheran Home is currently licensed for 113 residents (99 skilled care and 14 sheltered care). The non-profit MLH Corporation is now made up of 14 Lutheran churches.

As they celebrate 65 years of service, the Mendota Lutheran Home at 500 Sixth St., Mendota remains dedicated to providing compassionate care for all needs, whether skilled nursing and intermediate, rehab to home, respite care, hospice and palliative care or sheltered care.