– Sandy Headington, Resident at Aase Haugen

Sandy Headington is happy to be independently living in her home again. Earlier this year she had a bout of covid that was followed by Rhabdomyolysis, which is a virus that causes muscle tissue to breakdown at an alarming rate. The illness put Sandy in the Hospital in La Crosse, WI, for several days and took away her ability to walk more than 3 or 4 steps at a time and to live independently.

Sandy chose to come to Aase Haugen for skilled rehabilitation. From day one of her arrival, everyone was working toward the goal of sending Sandy home. “When I came here, I could barely walk and I was worried about getting stronger, and this was the best decision I could have ever made,” says Sandy. She chose Aase Haugen over other area facilities because they offer highly successful specialized skilled rehabilitation and restorative therapy to help folks recover from illness or surgery so they can get back home.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything more than the great therapy and care I received at Aase Haugen seven days a week,” says Sandy. “I was amazed I could walk out of there and stay on my own again in my own home. Everything was good from the skilled therapy staff, CNAs, and wonderful nurses – like Jenifer Mtisi – right down to the tasty food – it was a positive experience for me, and I recovered in just seven weeks!”

Northern Iowa Therapy partnered with Aase Haugen in 2024 to provide specialized therapy 5 days a week at the nursing home. “Many people have a negative thought about nursing homes, but skilled care can be a lifesaver for people who need help to recover from illness or injury,” says Robyn Hanson, PT, with NIT. “Sandy is a good success story, and we customize therapy on many different levels for many different people through Aase Haugen, with a goal of helping them become stronger so they can return home.”

Sandy’s therapy included physical and occupational therapy five days a week and on weekends the Aase Haugen restorative therapy team made sure she to keep her moving forward toward a successful recovery.

“Not only did the therapy build my strength back, but it also built my confidence up and I would recommend this program to anyone,” says Sandy.

Sandy has lived in Decorah most of her life and has two daughters, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. “If I want to keep going, they’ve taught me that I’ve got to keep exercising and that’s especially important now as my seventh great-grandchild has arrived!”

To learn more about skilled recovery at Aase Haugen, contact our resident advocate, Hunter Drenth at 563-382-3603 X103.

– Roger Johnson, Resident at Aase Haugen

Roger Johnson was born in Howard County, Iowa, and grew up just next door to the Saude Lutheran Church. He grew up with five siblings. Being the oldest of the Johnson children, Roger finished school through eighth grade and then went to work on the farm with his family. Later Roger earned his GED and for more than 20 years worked in the management of the hydraulic department at Oliver, which manufactured Oliver tractors. “I worked for Oliver for several years and then moved on to supervise at Terex Crane Manufacturing in Waverly for more than 20 years. Those were busy jobs, but I enjoyed it.”

Roger married Thelma at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hampton and together they raised a daughter, Jennifer, and a son, Christopher. “My daughter is a registered nursed and my son is the director of Vesterheim in Decorah,” says Roger. “A good education is important, and both my kids went to Luther College. I also have several wonderful grandkids.” Thelma and Roger liked to travel and especially liked to visit their niece in Colorado. “We did a lot of fishing on the Mississippi River too,” says Roger. “Thelma didn’t fish when we met, but she got the hang of it and, boy, she could really set the hook!”

Being 100% Norwegian, Roger says he and Thelma rolled a lot of lefse in their lives. When asked what his favorite food was, he replied, “I’m a Norwegian! I eat about everything – bring it and I’ll try it!” Roger spent many hours wood working and he’s made furniture that is at Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum, along with other projects in area churches. “My mother told me they needed the baptismal font fixed in the Saude Church and even though I didn’t belong there anymore, I fixed it. When you got a job from your mother, you do it!” he laughed.

Roger spent many years singing tenor in the gospel choir of his church in New Hampton, Iowa. “Oh Yes, Oh Yes, I’m A Child Of The King” is his favorite hymn and it brought back memories. “We used to sing in the women’s and men’s prisons,” says Roger. “It was quite an experience, until Covid hit and then it all stopped. You know those folks made a mistake and that’s the reason they were in prison, but you got to give them the benefit of the doubt and try to help. I enjoyed singing there.”

Roger also spent five years serving in the armed forces for the United States. “I was in the reserve for two years and then the National Guard for three” he says. “I remember being deployed to Guttenberg, Iowa, when the old Mississippi River was angry.” Roger says his team of 25-30 soldiers brought sleeping bags and slept on air mattresses for about 13 days as they helped save and serve the community.

What’s Roger’s advice to live a good life like he has for 85+ years? “You should keep busy. Thelma retired before me, and she volunteered at the Carnegie Cultural Center in New Hampton. I built a lot of stuff for the center,” says Roger. “You’ve just got to keep busy.” Roger keeps busy at Aase Haugen by growing plants, participating in activities and staying connected to his family and friends. “I like it here,” he says. “I think they treat me great, and I really like the view from my room. I see a lot of people walking or running on the dike, and lots of animals. At night the glow of the headlights from cars driving up through Phelps Park from across the river is kind of neat to look at.” We’re so happy you are part of the Aase Haugen family, Roger. You make our days brighter and better just by being here!

– Don Brandt, at Aase Haugen

Don Brandt can be found most days in the therapy room doing his exercises. “You have to have drive and determination to strengthen your body,” says Don. “I want to keep in good physical shape and I’m getting stronger every day.”

When Don joined Aase Haugen he was in a wheelchair and needed assistance to handle activities of daily living. Today, he is independent and looks forward to the restorative therapy workouts that are keeping him that way.

Don grew up and worked across the Northeast Iowa area, and ended his career at the Ridgeway Road Department. “I drove all the big equipment and worked to keep the roads in good shape for everyone,” says Don. Today, Don’s focus is keeping himself in good shape.

Don and his wife Florence Faye raised four children, three sons and a daughter. “I’m 87 years old and I’ll be turning 88 in June,” he says. “You got to keep going, you’ve got to have the willpower to live.”

Pictured is Don Brandt doing is daily weightlifting. “I like to wear gloves,” says Don. “They keep the skin on my hands from chaffing and it’s more comfortable.”

“Don is a great example of how restorative therapy can improve your quality of life,” says Mary Capouch, Aase Haugen’s restorative therapy supervisor. “And he’s a joy to work with – we have fun!”

– Gladys McGrane, at Aase Haugen

Gladys and her husband, Merle, raised their two children, Jason and Brenda, in Elma, Iowa. Together they enjoyed a very active lifestyle. Every Saturday night she said they would clean up, dress up, eat dinner and pick up friends to go dancing at The Inwood in Spillville. “We always loved to dance,” says Gladys. “We would dance till 1 or 2 in the morning and then have sandwiches before going home at about 3 am!” All this activity was followed by Gladys going to work as a CNA in New Hampton the next morning. “I wonder sometimes if I would have rested my body more maybe I wouldn’t have had a stroke,” Gladys added.

Her stroke happened while she was on the phone talking to her daughter more than 11 years ago. Her daughter asked her to call for Merle and when he got to her side, she fell before he could get her into bed.

“It was scary,” says Gladys. “I couldn’t move my body on my right side and all I wanted was to get to Mayo Clinic in Rochester to get help.” When she arrived in Rochester, they evaluated her and began formulating a plan for the future. “When something like this happens people need to get immediate attention,” Gladys advises. “My doctors told me that because I got immediate attention, my outcome was better – if it would have been any later, I could have been in a wheelchair for life.”

One thing people learn as they get to know Gladys, is that she is strong and independent. After her stroke, her husband passed away and she went home to live on her own. “I mowed the lawn and pulled the weeds and I even drove back then,” she says. “I had to find different ways to do the things I enjoy or needed to do – and that’s just what I did.” But over the course of the past three years she says she’s noticed her body getting stiffer and her ability to walk became a challenge. “That’s why I’m here,” she says. “I’m a person who has always wanted to get better, and you have to WANT to get better, because it’s hard work.”

After being in skilled care at Aase Haugen for three weeks, Gladys is feeling stronger and walking again. And she’s not just walking, she’s also able to open and close her right hand again. “I like walking on the treadmill,” she says. “A think the therapists are really good. They’ve made a difference in my life. After my meds in the morning, my hand is less stiff and I can even open it.”

Gladys has a goal to move in with her daughter in Rochester when she leaves Aase Haugen. “My daughter took a new job there and I’m so proud of her,” she says. “She works with cancer doctors to help identify cancer cells and care for cancer patients. She’s good to me and I look forward to moving in with her.”

When asked what she’d want to tell other people who experience strokes, she said, “You’ve got to want to get better, then you’ve got to work at it, and you’ll see that therapy really does make a difference and your life will
be good. Do not quit, keep going one step at a time, keep trying and you CAN do it!”

– Marie Hanson, at Aase Haugen

Meet Marie Hanson, one of the happiest people on earth!

She was raised on a farm near Spring Grove, MN,

in the little village of Wilmington. “I was a farm girl,” Marie recalls. “I graduated high school and worked in La Crosse and then married Harold “Link” Ellingson.” Together they had four children, Sharon, Susan, Randy and Renee. “I’m so proud of my kids and how hard they work and plan for the future,” says Marie with a twinkle of pride in her eye. “I moved to Aase Haugen to be closer to my children.” She also has 11 grandchildren.

Marie worked in a nursing home and the community schools for several years and after Harold passed from a heart attack, she married Chester Hanson. Marie traveled to every state in the union and at a recent class reunion one member asked, “What was your favorite place, Marie?” To which she answered, “All states were interesting, but you know it’s Minnesota! You can’t go back on your own home state!” Marie has a true positive outlook on life and finds happiness and humor in most everything. At 97-years-young, she says the secret to a long life is to do all things that make you happy. “Every time I see my grandchildren I say, “I love you, be good, and then you’ll be happy.” She adds, “I’m happy because I choose to be happy. I’m thankful for what I’ve had and what I have today.”

Marie is an avid card player and says in her younger days she was very active in the church and with the children’s school activities. “I loved to dance and I was on the bowling team too,” she added.

Raised in a Norwegian home, she says some of her favorite foods are mashed potatoes and gravy and “lefse of course!” She says her favorite hymn is The Old Rugged Cross and her favorite Bible verse is The Apostles’ Creed. She doesn’t have a particular flower that is a favorite, but says she always liked red geraniums.

Marie says she likes it at Aase Haugen, “Everyone is so friendly here and even when some things about me are getting weaker and disappearing, my mouth still works and we can laugh together! I like laughter!”

– Arlan Forde, at Aase Haugen

Arlan Forde is 100% Norwegian and grew up on a farm just north of Sattre, Iowa. “I was the youngest in my family,” says Arlan. “And I lived just four miles from where I was born until I went to the U.S. Army and I spent some time stationed in Germany.” He says they farmed the land and milked cows in addition to have a few chickens and pigs. “I remember taking eggs down to the Sattre store with my brother,” he said. “We’d trade them for food, like flour. My mom used to make the best bread from that flour.”

Arlan married Marjorie and they raised two children. They started out farming with horses and then got a tractor. “Seems like we got another tractor about every two years after we started that!”  Their family continued to grow and he said with a smile, “I have a bunch of grandkids today!” A couple of his granddaughters live close by and on the day we interviewed, he was set to go out for a ride with his daughter. “I like fall,” he said. “The leaves are nice to look at.”

When asked what his favorite food is, he said, “Oh, I’ll eat just about anything!” But he did admit that he likes ice cream and was happy to hear that Aase was serving ice cream all day on Wednesday that week!

Arlan is about 88 years old and says he doesn’t have any secrets to a long life, but he added, “My mother lived to be almost 100, so I come from a long line.”  He says he likes living at Aase. “The people are good to me here and the food is good too!”

We are happy you are a part of our Aase Haugen family, Arlan!

– Judy Schneekloth, at Aase Haugen

Judy grew up in the quaint little town of Mabel, Minnesota, with her grandmother, older sister and other close relatives. She’s lived in several different parts of the United States and traveled abroad during her lifetime, “I did a lot of traveling and that’s what I loved the most,” she says. “I’ve been lucky to go to Alaska three times and even won a trip to London!” Judy said she drove to Alaska, but, “I didn’t drive in the mountains,” she commented with a laugh. “They are just so huge!”

She says she stayed in Minnesota until her four sons were grown and gone. “Three of my children have passed away, but my oldest son had five children and my youngest had two, so I have seven wonderful grandchildren and I’m so proud of them all. They make my life interesting,” she said with a sparkle in her eye.

In addition to traveling for pleasure, Judy’s career as an in-home health care provider has moved her to places such as Rochester, MN, Tennessee, Arizona, Duluth and Door County, Wisconsin.

Judy joined the Aase Haugen famiy in June of this year. “I like it here,” she says. “Everyone is helpful and kind and it is so good to get healthy meals and assistance with my medication.” Speaking of food, she says her favorite foods are potatoes and shrimp and she loves roses – specially yellow ones. “My grandmother had a green thumb and she had the best gardens, but I was always too busy to try to grow them!”

Judy says she’s looking forward to seeing the new nursing home. “I don’t know how long it will take but it will be nice.” When asked to share ‘words of wisdom’ she said, “Just enjoy every day and that’s what I have always done. We don’t know how long we’ll be here so we need to just enjoy every day.”

Thank you for your positive attitude and friendship, Judy! We’re so happy you are part of our Aase Haugen family!

– Merlin Sharp, at Aase Haugen

Merlin Sharp grew up in the Decorah area and was the middle child of five siblings. Early in his career he taught German and English at North Winneshiek School before joining the management team at DECO products in Decorah. Recently, Merlin experienced a fall and came to Aase Haugen for skilled care to build his strength to go home again. “This is the third time I’ve come to Aase over the years for skilled care,” says Merlin. “I get excellent care here and I would recommend Aase to anyone.”

Merlin’s family has a history with Aase Haugen as well. Three generations of his family have lived here and he says, “It’s almost like my family to me being here.”

Claiming to be half Norwegian, Merlin says his favorite food is lasagna and his favorite hymn is “Lead kindly Light.” Merlin’s hobbies include gardening, reading and watching the History Channel. He says he’s always liked to be active, including biking and walking/hiking as hobbies as well.

“Building a new Aase Haugen is an excellent idea,” he says. “It would be a welcomed thing for residents and a place where staff would be happy to continue to provide excellent care.”

We’re glad we can serve your health care needs, Merlin, and we’re happy you’re part of our Aase Haugen family.

– Doyle Heyveld, Resident at Aase Haugen

Doyle Heyveld grew up on a farm near Leighton, Iowa with one brother and his family. Doyle and his wife, Cheryl, met while in the sixth grade and ended up marrying in college. They have been married 45 years and have two sons and five grandsons ages 3 ½ to 6 ½.

He is a retired Engineering manager from Caterpiller.  He has always enjoyed photographing flowers, woodworking and traveling. He was also the Scout Master for their sons’ Boy Scout Troop.  He has also enjoyed bicycling, hiking, skiing, and motorcycle riding, art and did some painting, as well as made his photography look like artworks.

Cheryl says they were blessed to be able to travel to several countries as well as much of the US including backpacking in Colorado and rafting through the Grand Canyon.

Doyle’s favorite hymn is Amazing Grace and his favorite foods are Mexican – the hotter the better!  Cheryl says, “I have been happy with Doyle’s care at Aase Haugen – everyone is helpful and treats him with respect.” We are blessed to have Doyle and his family as part of our Aase Haugen family.

Doyle is pictured with his wife, Cheryl, on their anniversary in 2019.

– James Dougherty, at Aase Haugen

James Dougherty grew up in Waukon, IA, and he and his wife, Lavonne, raised their five children there as well. James invested 34 years working for ‘Ma Bell’ while the phone company was bought out by other companies over the years, Jim stayed a faithful employee. Following his retirement from the phone company, he and his wife owned Spook Cave Campground near McGregor, IA. “We ran the campground for 14 years with our daughter,” says Jim. “I was the carpenter and plumber and most everything else. It was a good thing.”

James’ grandparents were from Ireland and he and Lavonne had the opportunity to travel to the ‘home country’ along with his brother and a couple of cousins. He said they stayed in castles, enjoyed the Irish food and entertainment and, “the provisions were excellent,” says Jim. When asked if he had inherited any of the so-called ‘Irish temper,’ he replied, “I came close!”

When asked if he liked Irish beer, he shared that on their way home from the trip to Ireland, they stopped between Freeport, IL, and Waukon for a beer. “My friend asked me how much the beer cost and I said I gave them a five-dollar bill and it wasn’t enough,” James said. “Thing was, I wasn’t even crazy about the beer!”

Today, James says he is comfortable at Aase Haugen and that with his therapy, he has been walking more. “The food gets better all the time,” says Jim. “And there’s enough activities to keep me occupied.”

Sláinte! Or cheers to you, our Irish James! We’re looking forward to celebrating your 97th birthday with you this November!

– Leland (Lee) Volden, at Aase Haugen

Lee Volden grew up on a farm near Viroqua, Wisconsin, where at a very early age his adventuresome heart fell in love with flying. During his service in the US Army Air Corps in WWII, Lee became a radio operator on B-24 Liberator airplanes. After leaving the service, he earned his own pilot license and enjoyed flying the wild blue yonder for many years.

Lee married another love of his life, Donna, in 1952. Together they worked on the family farm planting crops, milking Jersey cows and raising five children! For many years, Lee and Donna belonged to a square dance club in La Crosse as well as a neighborhood card club. Lee was a very successful farmer. His can-do attitude and inquisitive personality led him to study new farming trends, and he was rotating crops and terracing his land long before it became a common practice. Lee and Donna kept busy on the farm raising their children, and church was an important part of their daily life. Farm work took up most of their days, but later in life when they could travel to visit their children and grandchildren, they embraced the opportunity. They enjoyed family vacations to Hawaii and Alaska and many trips across the states to visit their loved ones. Lee’s curiosity and adventuresome nature made vacations with his family all the more enjoyable. He was still riding jet skis with his grandchildren in his 80s, and even tackled the Tornado waterslide at Wisconsin Dells!

Lee is happy at Aase Haugen, and we are so happy you are part of our extended Aase Haugen family too!