Wichita Presbyterian Manor
FEBRUARY 2023
Happy Valentine’s Day February is the most romantic of months and in honor of Valentine’s Day we asked two of our couples-in-love to tell us their love story.
“He was quite a salesman.” Wichita Presbyterian Manor couple found love in the Arizona sun. When Wichita Presbyterian Manor residents Shelia Pilger and Don Bohlken first met one another, beautiful music was playing nearby.
New case manager Carla Schulz brings plenty of experience to new role It isn’t every day that a former bench technician at an aircraft repair organization ends up working in senior living. That’s exactly what happened, however, in the case of Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s Carla Schulz.
Carla Schulz
“We met at a lounge next to a very nice restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona,” explained Don. “I had made my way from the bar area closer to the piano to listen to the music. That’s when Shelia and her friend walked in.”
“I’ve been a nurse for 15 years but before that I worked for a company my mother started,” Carla explained. “We repaired aircraft panel instruments on some of the World War II-era planes.”
Shelia had never been married and Don was divorced with a daughter who had just finished up at Arizona State. He had moved to Arizona to escape the icy winters of Chicago, where he’d been living while enjoying a successful career with IBM. An Iowa native, he was enjoying a break from the harsh midwestern winters.
Eventually, nursing school came calling and Schulz “cut her teeth” in senior living working at a home plus community for nearly a decade.
Shelia, a K-State grad who grew up in Western Kansas, had received a master’s degree from Arizona State and had remained in the southwest, working in a corporate job. She wasn’t necessarily looking for love when she met Don that day near the piano. “He was quite a salesman,” Shelia laughed. “He put on the ultimate campaign.” “I did whatever I could to win her over in the days and weeks that followed,” Don said. “That included a hot air balloon ride and some very fine dining.” Don’s romantic efforts paid off and the couple was married 39 years ago this past December. Over the years, the pair has enjoyed traveling together. Shelia even found success in the field of real estate, thanks to another “sales pitch” from her husband.
“I did a little bit of everything,” she said. “Case manager, nurse, social worker. You name it.” Schulz said she loves her new role with Wichita Presbyterian Manor, and truly appreciates the continuum of care offering by the community. “I’m a strong believer in aging in one place,” she said. “I think it provides such peace of mind for family members and for residents. If your care needs change, your home doesn’t change.” Join us in welcoming Carla Schulz to the Wichita Presbyterian Manor team! u
Love – continued on page 2 Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at WichitaPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.
1