For Linda Viesselmann and her daughter, Sherry, Cedar Community has become much more than a place to live. It’s where family connections continue, new friendships are formed, and volunteering creates meaningful ways to stay active and involved.
A Natural Next Step
A move to Cedar Community was a natural step for Linda and her husband, Marv, in 2020.
They had known about Cedar Community for many years, and after a lifetime of owning and maintaining a home, they were ready for a simpler way of living.
“We didn’t want a house anymore, and Cedar Community was always someplace you knew about,” says Linda.
Marv and Linda were some of the very first residents to move into the Cedar Ridge Homes on the Cedar Ridge Campus. They moved from Saukville, and it didn’t take long for them to feel at home.
When One Generation Inspires Another
Seeing how much her parents enjoyed life at Cedar Community, their daughter Sherry followed.
About a year later, she moved from her home in Port Washington to an independent living apartment at Cedar Ridge Apartments. For Sherry, the move was a fresh start, bringing both a new home at Cedar Community and a new job opportunity in West Bend after many years working at Walmart in Saukville.
Both Linda and Sherry agree that living at Cedar Community provides a sense of comfort and security.
They appreciate the quiet atmosphere, friendly neighbors and team members, and the feeling of living among people who share similar life experiences.
Linda jokes, “I think I’ve met most of the people I know at Cedar Community through Sherry.”
Family connections make life there even more meaningful. Linda’s sister and brother-in-law, Dane and Karen Barber, also live in the independent living apartments.
Volunteering Opens the Door to Friendship
That sense of connection extends into volunteering, which has always been an important part of Linda and Sherry’s lives.
Before moving to Cedar Community, they volunteered at Portal, Inc. in Grafton and the American Legion in Saukville.
At Cedar Ridge Apartments, they share their passion for gardening by helping water and care for the patio plants and decorative pots that welcome residents and visitors at the entrance.
“Volunteering has opened the door to many new friendships,” Linda and Sherry share.
Their love of flowers comes from years of tending gardens. Linda also maintains a garden space in the Cedar Ridge Gardens, where she grows vegetables and, of course, plenty of flowers.
Finding Meaning in Helping Others
Volunteering doesn’t stop there.
Linda helps at Cedar Treasures, Cedar Community’s resale store, while every Saturday night Sherry can be found leading bingo with residents at Cedar Ridge Apartments.
“What started as a small group has now reached over 40 residents,” Sherry says with a smile.
Helping others is what Sherry enjoys most. She regularly assists a neighbor with washing dishes and keeping the kitchen clean and also helps with open mic nights.
For both Linda and Sherry, making friends and supporting their neighbors is one of the most rewarding parts of life at Cedar Community.
Staying Active in Their Own Ways
When she isn’t volunteering, Sherry works about 20 hours a week in the bakery department at Pick ’n Save.
Earlier in her life, Linda spent more than 20 years showing horses and still enjoys meeting fellow residents who share that same passion.
She also worked as a dental assistant for 20 years before retiring and later fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a bartender. She spent time bartending at the American Legion in Saukville and later at the Knights of Columbus in West Bend.
“I like the busyness of it,” laughs Linda.
Staying active continues to be a priority for both Linda and Sherry.
Sherry participates in swim and exercise classes, while Linda tends to her gardens at her Cedar Ridge Home.
Pets are also an important part of their daily lives.
Sherry has a 10-year-old Shih Tzu named Missy, who enjoys play dates with Linda’s dog, Charlie, a seven-year-old Havanese, while Sherry is at work.
More Than a Place to Live
For Linda and Sherry, Cedar Community is a place to volunteer, remain active, build new friendships, support neighbors, and stay close to family.
Their story is also one example of the generations of families who have chosen to call Cedar Community home.
Thank you, Linda and Sherry, for all you do.
