Home :
History of St. Paul Elder Services
St. Paul Elder Services has a long history of service to the elderly in Kaukauna and the surrounding Fox River Valley communities. This tradition began 60 years ago when the Thilmany/Wertheimer mansion was given to the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity by Bishop Paul Rhode of the Green Bay Diocese to use for charity work. Over the years this work has expanded to provide a continuum of care for the elderly in the Fox Valley.
1890 |
Mansion built by Oscar Thilmany at 509 W. Wisconsin Avenue in Kaukauna |
1910 |
Mansion purchased by Monroe Wertheimer |
1939 |
Mansion donated by Robert Wertheimer (son of Monroe) to Paul Rhode, Bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay |
1939 |
Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity responded to Bishop Rhode's call to use the mansion for charity work |
1940 |
Visiting Nurse Center for the Poor is established |
1943 |
St. Paul Home for the Aged established; first resident is Mrs. Edith Grignon admitted September 13, 1943 |
1960 |
Licensed as a 54-bed skilled nursing home and named St. Paul Home |
1964 |
New wing attached to 1890 mansion |
1988 |
Construction and dedication of new St. Paul Home on Oakridge Avenue, adjacent to Kaukauna Community Hospital |
1989 |
Former St. Paul Home renamed St. Paul Manor and renovated to create a 28-resident CBRF (Community Based Residential Facility) |
1996 |
Kaukauna Community Hospital closed and negotiations to purchase hospital property begin with Affinity Health System |
1998 |
Hospital building razed and construction begins for the $4.5 million elder campus to include an 18-bed Alzheimer’s unit, 34 assisted living apartments, a therapy facility, and a community center on 14th Street |
1999 |
Passages Dementia Care Program begins when Appletree Court is completed. Renovation of Poppy Path begins to create 18 private rooms for residents with dementia |
2000 |
St. Paul Elder Services south campus is completed and the new buildings are blessed by Bishop Robert Banks |
2003 |
Villa expansion is completed and new building is blessed by Bishop Banks. SPES celebrates 60th anniversary Life Enrichment Center opens which includes Club Gabriel and Healing water facilities. |
2004 |
Center Of Rehabilitation opens offering transitional therapy services to members of the community following hospitalization for surgery. |