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In 1953, William Koehl, an aging bachelor farmer, donated his property in West Bend to the United Church of Christ for the purpose of serving the elderly. Sadly, he died before he could see his dream become a reality when the first residents came to our first skilled nursing home in 1956.

Under the guidance of executive director Rev. Louis Riesch, Cedar Lake Home grew over the next 35 years to provide as many as 415 skilled care nursing home beds and become one of Wisconsin’s largest nursing homes.

Rev. Riesch, acknowledged nationally for his skill and dedication, created the nation’s first 128-bed nursing home dedicated to caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. The facility was known as Friendship House (located in what is now Cedar Bay West) and was opened in 1976. The cost of construction was covered through donations from people throughout West Bend and Washington County. Riesch also began, in 1968, the creation of Kettle Heights, the first of four villages for active and independent retirees. In 1986, two additional campuses were constructed in West Bend. Cedar Ridge, a 312-unit apartment complex, opened in the city of West Bend for active and independent seniors. Many of Cedar Ridge’s charter residents remain active and independent there today. In that same year, the Cedar Valley Retreat Center was opened on a 100-acre donated parcel just east of Kohlsville.

Rev. Riesch was a teacher, administrator, dedicated United Church of Christ minister and a friend to the elderly. He served the Cedar Community as its founder from 1953 through his retirement in January of 1991. He passed away in January, 2007, but his legacy lives on in the thousands of lives Cedar Community touches each day.

Riesch was succeeded by Steve Jaberg, who continues today as Cedar Community’s executive director and chief executive officer. In its 54-year history, Cedar Community has had only two executive directors, a testimony to our continued dedication to our mission and clear vision for the future.
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