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Luverne Veterans Home celebrates 25 years

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Event recognizes employees who have worked 25 years at facility
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By
Lori Sorenson

It’s been 25 years since the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne accepted its first military veteran as a resident, and the community celebrated this anniversary on Friday.
“Our veterans have proudly served their nation, and now it’s our turn to proudly serve our veterans,” Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Herke told crowds gathered on the Veterans Home property.
He was among several featured speakers that included Luverne Veterans Home Administrator Luke Schryvers and Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian.
“We’ve had 25 years of outstanding care for our veterans,” Baustian said, referring also to early leadership in the community that led to the facility being built here.
“Without this forward-thinking committee, we wouldn’t be having this celebration today.”
He shared information about the economic impact of the Veterans Home in Luverne over the past two decades.
According to current Luverne Economic Development Authority director Holly Sammons, five new housing subdivisions sprouted up since 1991.
They include the Veterans Addition, Evergreen First and Second Additions, Sybesma Addition and Manfred Heights Addition.
All five developments comprise 210 lots, of which 182 parcels have been developed with new homes. The cumulative estimated market value of those homes totals more than $53 million.
Friday’s highlights included a performance by the Minnesota Veterans Home Luverne choir and recognition of employees who have been with the facility for 25 years.
Business manager Anne Stegenga was the first one hired in 1993 before veterans moved in. She said Friday that her career has been rewarding.
“It’s been a great place to work and to serve our veterans,” Stegenga said Friday. “It’s a wonderful place in the community, and our veterans deserve this.”
Other 25-year employees are (in order of their hires) Lori Carlson, Sandy Kelm, Missy Verbrugge, Sherri Ladd, Daniel Spreiter, Astrid Rittenhouse, Linette Eischens, Kathy Fey, Carolyn Norman, Bonnie Groen, Dawn Esselink, Becky Vander Poel, Nancy Lofthus, Lynette Springman, Jodi Clark, Susan Vis, Rita DeBoer, Maggie Fick, Michelle Madison, Teresa Kooiman, Rachelle VanderWaal, Becky Ranschau, Margene Behrens and Twana Smith.
The facility currently employs more than 190 people with an annual payroll of $8.4 million.
Schryvers said the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne has cared for 841 Minnesota veterans and their families since opening in 1994.
The facility currently cares for 85 residents in three different living spaces, including a 17-bed special care unit for those with dementia.
“We are committed to creating a community where life is truly worth living — with activities and interactions that residents find meaningful and enjoyable,” said Veterans Home Administrator Luke Schryvers.

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