Published on 13 WTHR August 16, 2017 Article Written By Kevin Rader
INDIANAPOLIS – Here in Indiana, it’s not unusual to find Hoosiers doing something good in complete anonymity. They don’t do it for attention. They do it because they know what it can mean to someone in need.
Schemmel said she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013 after she turned 70. “I’m four years older, but I feel better now than I did then,” Schemmel said. Now, she said she can run several errands before getting worn out, unlike prior to going to Rock Steady. Schemmel said she plans to volunteer to help at the Hoosier Village site.
The hospital isn’t usually thought of as a good place to be. That is why so many people at this place work so hard to put as good a face on things as possible.
Sometimes that means no face at all. In fact, no one ever sees these faces. Every Monday for at least three years, some say more, these women gather to cut, stitch, stuff and paint dolls to put a smile on the face of a child they will never meet. “I take them home and sew them,” said Judy Zinn. “I am not a stuffer, I am not an artist so this is something I can do.”
“We want to fill all the nicks and crannies,” said one volunteer as she worked. Some of the trauma dolls have no face, giving the child an opportunity to draw their own… thereby revealing their own feelings. The rest are two faced. “I think of all the children that will get some joy out of this and be able to express themselves being sad or happy,” said Sylvia Baker. “The doctor can ask how they feel and they can put up the smiley face or the sad face. It’s hard for a small child, particularly if they don’t feel good, to explain to you how they are feeling.”
It’s also a great opportunity for these residents at Hoosier Village to get together socially. “Our hands are busy and our chattering is just a side issue,” another resident told us. We asked Jane Fay if there was anywhere else she would rather be on a Monday morning “No, but I often have to go to the ophthalmologist,” she said.
Another resident, part of a Parkinson’s group, said “We discussed apathy, that apathy is the killer of people with Parkinson’s. You don’t have apathy if you come and sit in this room.” And the goal is to make sure there is no apathy in this room as well. “It’s good to know these children are enjoying these,” said Baker. “They just hold them and play with them and look at them and who knows what they are thinking. I would love to be in their little minds and know and see.”
Published in Current – Zionsville May 24, 2017 Article Written By Mark Ambrogi
Ronald May has made it his mission to chronicle stories about veterans.“I want to help them preserve their stories,” he said. “A lot of their own families don’t even know. It’s a living history. It’s a chance to record something that is really significant in our nation’s history.”
May, 54, started as chaplain of Hoosier Village, a senior living community in Zionsville, in 2015, where the services are non-denominational. He has been serving different churches as a Lutheran pastor in the Indianapolis area since 1995. He was a chaplain in the Navy Reserves for 22 years from 1990 to 2012.
“When I retired, I wanted to stay somewhat connected to the military, so in retirement that usually means staying connected to a veteran community,” said May, who moved to Carmel a year ago.
He started to examine ways he could do that.
“When I was a pastor, I always enjoyed talking about our veterans who had died and included in the message some of their military service and what the contribution meant to them and if it was a time of war,” May said. “So the idea of interviewing veterans came to mind, and I started inquiring to newspapers to see if any would be interested in receiving stories about veterans’ service.”
Ronald May’s first book, published two years ago, is “Our Service, Our Stories: Indiana Veterans Recall Their World War II Experiences.” (Submitted photo)
The Martinsville Reporter-Times began running his articles in 2012.
May started by interviewing veterans he already knew about from the congregations, focusing mostly on World War II veterans.
“The stories got good reception and I enjoyed it,” May said. “From there, the idea came, why not expand the articles into chapters and publish a book?”
His first book, “Our Service, Our Stories: Indiana Veterans Recall Their World War II Experiences,” was published two years ago.
May got involved in Indy Honor Flight, a nonprofit that transports veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit their memorials, in 2012.
“That helped me to find out about veterans in the area, offering an interview and writing a service story about them,” May said.
In addition, May has written veterans stories for the Hendricks County Flyer.
“It’s a labor of love, because the time it takes and distance to drive,” May said.
As part of his job as chaplain, May has offered to write stories of Hoosier Village veterans.
“I then asked them permission to include that in a future book,” May said. “Then I let them know if they would like a story just about you, then family members might be willing to bear the expense for that.”
May is in the process of writing a second book with World War II veterans’ stories.
“We still have a window of opportunities to capture those stories, but it’s closing fast,” May said. “The youngest World War II veterans are 89 or 90. In general, I think there is more interest in reading those stories because it’s a war that really doesn’t have any controversy associated with it. It’s a pretty clean black and white scenario.”
May said he might do a third book on World War II. Then he plans to do a book with a mix of Korean and Vietnam veterans.
“I want to honor the veterans, educate the community and the next generation because today less than 1 percent of the population serves in the U.S. Armed Forces, so it’s not easily experienced,” May said. “In World War II, even if you didn’t serve, your neighbor or your uncle did.”
Many World War II veterans who served in combat weren’t ready to talk about it for a long time.
“There has been a lot more interest in their stories in the last 20 years than there was in the first 50,” May said of World War II vets. “Slowly, the vets have gotten to the point where they’re more willing to share. I think there is a therapeutic process. Sometimes you open up more to strangers than you do to your own family. There is a freedom to be honest.”
May said some of the most rewarding feedback comes from family members.
“They’ll say thanks, we didn’t know this about their dad, grandfather, husband or whatever,” said May, who is single with three grown children, Karlie, 25, Jonathan, 22 and Kristie, 20.
May’s book is available at Black Dog Books in Zionsville.
Ronald May, right, included information about World War II veteran Paul Shaerer in his book.
Paying tribute
May said there are approximately 80 World War II, Korea and Vietnam veterans living in Hoosier Village.
May was instrumental in starting a Veteran Garden at Hoosier Village in May. It honored living veterans from Hoosier Village as well as late spouses of residents.
Hoosier Village resident Ray McDonald, who turns 90 July 6, is appreciative of May’s contribution. He entered the service in October 1945, just after World War II ended. He served in the occupation forces in Japan in 1946 and 1947.
McDonald, who lives at Hoosier Village with his wife, Fro, started a Veterans Club when he moved to Hoosier Village from Fishers nearly five years ago.
“Ron was helpful with the Veterans Club, and then he spearheaded the Veteran Garden,” said McDonald, whose son, Bob, was the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs from 2014 to earlier this year. “I don’t know how we were so fortunate to get him here. He’s just done a super job. All the residents are pleased with the care he gives, whether they are ill, in the memory center. He has a big heart for everybody.”
Published in Current – Zionsville May 24, 2017 Article Written By Mark Ambrogi
Jim Powers had never dwelled on his World War II service. In fact, he seldom talked about it before moving from South Bend to the Hoosier Village Retirement Center in Zionsville two years ago. Powers was one of several veterans recognized at the Veteran Garden dedication ceremony May 19 at Hoosier Village. The veterans were honored with a medal and their name and service on a brick in the garden. “It’s absolutely fabulous,” Powers said. Ron May, Hoosier Village chaplain, had the idea to start the garden after hearing about Bricks of Remembrance. “They place those bricks around the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Indianapolis,” May said. May said that would be nice, but he and others at Hoosier Village thought it would be better to have the bricks in a spot where residents could see them more often. Thus, they decided to build the Veterans Garden. In addition to the veterans living at the community, May said if a spouse of a veteran who has died lives in Hoosier Village, they will honor that veteran as well. “It was a fantastic turnout,” said May, who presided over the ceremony. “It’s so nice to be part of something that will be a lasting tribute to our veterans. We had wonderful support from the parent company (BHI) and the (BHI Foundation) and the staff that went above and beyond to put this together.”
May said the garden will likely be updated twice a year, near Veterans Day and Memorial Day. They honored 133 veterans at the ceremony, with 93 of them still living. Powers, 92, and his wife, Marilyn, moved to Hoosier Village to be closer to their sons, Jeff, a Geist resident, and Jim, a Carmel resident. Powers went with his son, Jeff, on the Indy Honor Flight a year ago. Powers said May was responsible for arranging that. A member of the Air Force, Powers was stationed in Italy, serving as the radio operator on a B-24 bomber, flying several combat missions. “It’s stunning the amount of love and affection Hoosier Village gives to the veterans here,” Jeff said.
Hoosier Village resident Dr. Donald Spees, a retired Zionsville dentist and 1944 Zionsville Community High School graduate, was one of those honored. He served two years in the Navy in the Pacific Theater. “This is nice for the veterans,” said Spees, whose son, Kevin, is a Zionsville dentist and member of the town council.
Boy Scout David Klemm shakes hands with Hoosier Village resident Norma Nelson, an Army nurse during World War II, after giving her a medal. (Photo by Ann Marie Shambaugh)Boy Scout David Klemm places a medal around the neck of Charles Gipson, who served in the Marines. (Photo by Ann Marie Shambaugh)Hoosier Village residents attend the dedication of the Veterans Garden. (Photo by Ann Marie Shambaugh)
Published in Current – Zionsville April 15, 2017 Article Written By Mark Ambrogi
When Ellen Schemmel first heard about Rock Steady Boxing’s ability to assist those with Parkinson’s disease like herself, she wasn’t interested. “I thought that was a guy thing,” Schemmel said. “So I never followed up on it.” Eventually she was persuaded to see it in person, so she went along with Hoosier Village Wellness Director Krista Broshears, and she was really impressed. Schemmel began training at Rock Steady Boxing’s main facility more than a year ago. Schemmel, who has lived in Zionsville for 43 years, moved to Hoosier Village, a senior living community, two years ago. Broshears, who became certified to teach the Rock Steady method last summer, will begin holding Rock Steady classes April 24 at Hoosier Village’s Keenan Community Center for residents and non-residents who have Parkinson’s. Broshears held an information session March 28.
Schemmel said she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013 after she turned 70. “I’m four years older, but I feel better now than I did then,” Schemmel said. Now, she said she can run several errands before getting worn out, unlike prior to going to Rock Steady. Schemmel said she plans to volunteer to help at the Hoosier Village site.
Schemmel said the first level of Rock Steady is for people who are still active and working a job. The second level is for those who are independent and are able to exercise, which is the level she was assigned. The third level is for those who have a cane or walker and the fourth is for those in wheelchairs.
Schemmel stressed that the idea is not to fight each other during training.
“Our fight is against Parkinson’s,” she said.
Participants must complete a health and functional assessment prior to participation. The cost for Hoosier Village residents is $20 for a 10-class punch card with a $35 enrollment fee. For non-residents, it’s $50 for a 10-card punch card with a $65 enrollment fee. Enrollment fees include a functional assessment, boxing gloves and hand wraps. Call 317-973-4006 to schedule an assessment time on April 12, 14, 19 or 21.
Hoosier Village wellness director Krista Broshears and resident Ellen Schemmel, who trains at Rock Steady Boxing because of her Parkinson’s disease, displays training method. (Photo by Mark Ambrogi)
Join The Oaks future residents for a special luncheon with BHI Senior Living CEO, John Dattilo, and CFO, Roger Weideman. If you wish, invite your financial advisor to join you for a delicious meal and a brief overview of BHI finances.
Eddie Merlot’s
3645 East 96th St., Indianapolis, IN 46240
RSVP by Tuesday, February 14 by calling
John Koontz or Amy Snyder at 317-275-3208.
Take a look at this video filmed on our beautiful grounds! It was made for a conference attended by BHI, and features some of the neighbors and staff at Hoosier Village.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
