Writer: Justin Wulf
“We only go this way once, and it’s helpful if you can help other people”
Every good thing has a beginning.
For 101-year-old Ruth Ann Hackler, mornings begin at the breakfast table with friends at Cedar Lake Village in Olathe, Kanas.
“We’ve been sitting at the same table ever since I came here two and a half years ago,” she says, gesturing to the quiet woman joining her in the dining room. And when it becomes less about the conversation and more about the company, Ruth Ann knows when to step in.
“I’ve known her long enough that I know she wants that cup of coffee in the morning,” she says, pouring a fresh cup. That spirit of helping others is at the foundation of Cedar Lake Village. Ruth Ann would know.
“This is a file and there are many, many pictures in here,” she says while presenting a card table neatly organized with manila folders in her apartment. Beyond the newspaper clippings and photos, Ruth Ann is ingrained in the history of Olathe. She and her husband Gene helped start St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in 1949, first led by John Hoeger, son of Good Samaritan founder Rev. August “Dad” Hoeger. That beginning sparked another.
“John called up Gene and said, ‘My dad would like to see what we have in Olathe for the elderly and disabled,’” Ruth says. “That’s the beginning of the idea that something better could be done in Olathe.”
New beginnings
By February 1951, Good Samaritan began operating out of what’s known as the Ott’s Mill building.
“This is the very first home. It’s not even mentioned usually, but I am going to talk about it,” Ruth Ann says, holding a photo of the Ott’s Mill building, one of the oldest buildings in Olathe. Two years later, services moved a couple blocks over to East Park.
“This was the original Good Samaritan home,” Ruth Ann says as she shows the photo of the East Park location. “The community was very, very supportive from the beginning,” she adds. “Farmers would bring in produce and bushels of food. Butchers would bring meat to get us started.” All the while, Ruth Ann had a front row seat for Dad Hoeger’s compassion for others – as well as his filing system of any pocket in arm’s reach.
“Gene, being an attorney, realized that had to change,” she says with a chuckle. “So, one of the first things he did is he brought home everything that he could gather, and he and I set up in the basement of our home and we sorted out all that stuff by homes and got it in a safe, secure manner.”
A dedication that would plant the seeds for something greater.
“Not only were we the only place in town, but people came from Kansas City, Missouri, and all around the area here,” Ruth Ann says. “They would hear about the facility, so it wasn’t just local residents.”
Living the mission
Cedar Lake Village, which is a joint venture of Good Samaritan and The University of Kansas Health System, opened its doors in 2001. The woman who helped bring Good Samaritan to the community would eventually call it home.
“Of course, it was a no-brainer for me that I would come here,” Ruth Ann says. “Actually, the first day I was able to go down and eat, everybody at the table was somebody I knew. Had known them for years.”
“It’s an inspiration,” says assisted living manager Julie Gibson. “I think she is a good living role model of how we’re supposed to live our life.” The former state representative and decorated educator continues to serve others – especially new residents.
“Mainly to get acquainted and they get acquainted with me,” Ruth Ann says. “It builds friendships and it builds comfort level for people being here. I figured that’s something I could do.” And living the legacy that she and her husband started long ago.
“Good Samaritan’s values and mission completely align with how Ruth Ann lives her life day to day,” Julie says. “It always comes back to the focus of what’s best for people and doing the right thing for people. It stays with her day in and day out and is a little contagious.” It’s a mission that begins from the heart. “My whole being is that we only go this way once, and it’s helpful if you can help other people.” Ruth Ann says. “I’m very proud of what Good Samaritan’s done here and I sincerely hope it continues on the path it started.”
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