Wichita Presbyterian Manor
FEBRUARY 2020
Dean and Marlene Stine moved to Presbyterian Manor in January 2016, roughly 63 years after they tied the knot.
Spotlight on sweethearts: Dean and Marlene Stine
Dean and Marlene Stine met as schoolchildren in Edna, Kan. The sweethearts began dating in high school and married in 1952. They’re still together 67 years later. Their wedding took place while Dean was on leave from the Navy. Not long after the ceremony, he deployed to a war zone. “We got married on Sept. 21, and I had Thanksgiving dinner off the coast of Korea,” he said. When Dean returned from his last deployment, Marlene was waiting on the San Diego pier to tell him to hurry up and take her to Balboa Naval Hospital. Their daughter Marla was born soon after. Their second child Steve joined their family when they were living in Oswego, Kan. Dean was on the road a lot working for Southwestern Bell, and the family moved around the state for his job. After 36 years, Dean retired from telecommunications and went to work as an independent adjuster for Farm Bureau. His new role also kept him on the road a lot. Marlene worked different kinds of jobs throughout her career, including for the Salina Arts and Humanities Commission, where she helped plan the Smoky Hill River Festival. SWEETHEARTS – continued on page 2
Art is Ageless® call for entries underway
Wichita Presbyterian Manor has issued a call for entries for the Art is Ageless® juried exhibit to be held March 13 – 27, 2020. Entries of artistic works will be accepted from any area artist who is 65 years of age or older to exhibit and/or compete for an opportunity to be featured in the 40th anniversary Art is Ageless calendar in 2021. Artists may choose to enter the exhibit only. For the competition, works are to have been completed in the past five years (since January 2015). There are nine categories, as well as designations of amateur or professional. Works to be entered for judging need to be at Presbyterian Manor by March 12. The Art is Ageless® program encourages Presbyterian Manor residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through AIA – continued on page 4
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SWEETHEARTS – continued from page 1
said. “It was busy, but it was fun.”
The couple spent a lot of their free time attending their children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events. They all played, whether it was in school, for a club team or on the collegiate level. Marlene often traveled with her granddaughter to out-of-town softball games.
In 1992, Dean retired and the couple moved to Wichita to be near Marla and her two children. Three years later, they faced tragedy when Marla was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
“Dean was gone a lot, so I worked and kept busy with that,” Marlene
“We were lucky,” Dean said. He and Marlene were able to be there for their daughter and her family for the five years she battled the disease. Marla died 18 years ago, when her
children were 9 and 13. The Stines raised her daughter Dominica, whom they call Domi. She is married, lives on a cattle ranch and teaches high school in El Dorado. The Stines’ three other grandchildren live in Denver, Chicago and Mobile, Ala. The couple’s secret to the success of their marriage? Dean credits abstaining from arguing with his wife. “He was gone a lot,” Marlene offered. “That helped.” ◆
Spotlight on sweethearts: Jim & Gayle Roose Jim and his late wife, Gayle Roose, met at the University of Sioux Falls, where they were both students. “I spotted her sitting with a bunch of girls, and went right up and talked to them,” Jim said. Gayle’s girlfriends discouraged her from seeing Jim, but a few days later he was out driving when he spotted the young woman who had caught his eye. “I stopped and asked if she wanted to go to church,” Jim said. “And that did it for her.” He jokes that his red and white ’56 Chevy might have also been a contributing factor. The couple married on June 13, 1964, and celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary last year.
Jim and Gayle Roose were married on June 13, 1964, in Kewanee, Ill. “We were just kids,” Jim said.
“Those were the days,” Jim said. “We had $100 for a honeymoon, so we took a round trip to Rapid City, South Dakota” before settling into their first apartment.
Gayle worked as a preschool teacher for many years.
The newlyweds spent their wedding night at a motel in Rock Island, Ill., and laughed over the sign on the marquee: “A breathtaking room for the bride and the groom.” Jim and Gayle welcomed their first child in Sioux Falls, their son Jim. Daughter Tracey was born in Omaha, where they moved in 1970. Jim began his career working for a finance company and ended up managing corporate real estate for Wells Fargo.
WICHITA Presbyterian Manor
316-942-7456 ◆ Fax: 316-941-3806 4700 W. 13th St. Wichita, KS 67212-5575 WichitaPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | February 2020
The couple also lived in Des Moines and Denver before moving to Wichita in 2015 to be closer to their daughter. They were two of the first residents of The Westerly Residences at Wichita Presbyterian Manor. In early 2015, Gayle was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent treatment, including surgery. Four years later, they discovered the cancer had returned, bigger than ever. This time, Gayle declined treatment. SWEETHEARTS – continued on page 3
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Wichita Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizaton.
To submit or suggest articles: awatson@PMMA.org Amy Watson, life enrichment dir. Courtney Wolfe, executive director Cherree Hudspeth, healthcare sales and marketing
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
This RN can’t keep still When Denise Wright moved back to Wichita, she worked briefly for a nursing agency. That’s how she discovered she enjoyed working in skilled nursing communities.
“You have different types of relationships (in skilled nursing),” Denise said. “It’s not like you get to know someone, and they’re gone right away.” In her role as a registered nurse for the PATH program, she values the opportunity to “form relationships with people and see them progress.” The Michigan native first lived in Wichita when she was stationed at McConnell Air Force Base. Denise served in the Air Force for 27 years, first as a supply specialist, and then in the dental field. Denise liked the area and her sister lives in Wichita, so she moved back after retiring from the military. Hired as an LPN, Denise took courses at Butler County Community College to earn her Kansas RN license while working at Presbyterian Manor. She has four children, the oldest of whom are 39-year-old twins. Two live
in Illinois and one is in California. The fourth played college basketball for Bradley and went on to play professional basketball overseas. He’s spending this season in Wichita after the birth of his first child. In her free time, Denise enjoys solving crosswords, working out at the gym and roller skating. She’s been skating since the early 80’s, and is part of a roller-skating group that has been featured on local radio shows. You can find her and her groupmates at Carousel Skate Center wearing matching T-shirts. “I have to be moving and constantly doing something,” Denise said. The World Health Organization designated 2020 as “the year of the nurse.” This observation coincides with the 200th birth anniversary of revolutionary nurse Florence Nightingale, whose leadership forever elevated the nursing profession. Throughout the year, PMMA communities will shine a spotlight on nurses as part of this global recognition. You can share your nurse story by sending an email to 2020YearoftheNurse@pmma.org. ◆
Registered Nurse Denise Wright keeps active outside of work by working out and roller skating.
Upcoming events March 2020 Social Work Month March 8: Daylights Savings Time begins March 17: St. Patrick’s Day March 31: PATH Dine & Dash event March 30: National Doctors’ Day
April 2020 Occupational Therapy Month
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Jim spent long stretches of time sitting with his wife in the skilled nursing neighborhood before she passed away. “This was probably the hardest thing we’ve ever done in our lives,” he said. While the loss of his wife has been difficult, Jim says she is remembered for smiling a lot, especially on the occasion of a visit from one of her eight grandchildren. He adds that they were lucky to have each other, and to have the opportunity to go on several cruises. Their favorite was a two-week sail around the British Isles. Jim believes their marriage lasted because they were both suited to each other and committed to talking things out instead of turning away from conflict. “We agreed on just about everything, so it wasn’t hard,” he said. “We had our tough years—everybody does—but we worked through it.” ◆
April 8: Dementia Conversations Lunch & Learn April 10: Good Friday April 12: Easter April 19: PMMA Founder’s Day/50 Year Celebration: “Decades of Dedication” April 19 – 25: Volunteer Appreciation Week April 22: Administrative Professionals’ Day
Wichita Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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WICHITA Presbyterian Manor
4700 W. 13th St. Wichita, KS 67212-5575 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Our Mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values
Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
AIA – continued from page 1
its annual competition, as well as art classes, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions throughout the year. Local competition winners will join winners from 15 other PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica) communities to be judged at the systemwide level. Entry forms and information can be picked up at Wichita Presbyterian Manor, or by contacting Amy Watson at 316942-7456 or awatson@pmma.org. Or go online to ArtIsAgeless.org to view rules, download an entry form or enter online. ◆
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | February 2020
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