Soldier’s Grove Health Services Honors Community Through Memorial Wall

Soldier’s Grove Health Services is bringing the past to life through its latest project, a memorial wall dedicated to its residents and staff members who have passed away.

Activity Director Jerred Volden has been working at the center for almost 12 years, starting as a dietary aide at age 16. Two years later, he became housekeeping manager before accepting his current role, where the idea for creating the memorial wall started forming.

“It’s always been on my mind as a way to honor those who we have cared for and those who have passed on, and it didn’t hit me until I started thinking about all of the photos we have from the past,” Jerred said. “That’s when I decided a picture wall would be the best way to do it.”

For Jerred, it was important for the wall to encompass as many members of the Soldier’s Grove Health Services family as possible.

“It is not just residents who have passed away in our care – it’s residents who have been here for a period of time and passed away in their homes in the community, and it’s also people who have worked here who passed away,” he said.

In December, Jerred began digging through the center’s records and social media accounts and local funeral home obituaries. Many of the funeral homes had obituaries dating back to the 1980s or even decades further on their websites.

He printed all the photos in black and white, showcasing them in black frames, and completed the wall with more than 175 pictures by the middle of February. For residents without pictures, Jerred plans to include a framed poster with their names. He has already mapped out the dining room and other spots as the wall continues to grow.

“The memorial wall has been well received by our residents, staff, and families,” said Soldier’s Grove Health Services Executive Director Steve Bargar. “It has become commonplace to see our staff and/or residents at the wall looking at the photos and reminiscing. Overall, the memorial wall has been a fantastic and meaningful addition to our community.”

Echo Bristol is a former Executive Director at Soldier’s Grove Health Services and current Vice President of Success for North Shore Health. She said that Jerred is constantly going above and beyond to create purposeful, resident-centered experiences. The memorial wall is no different. It is a demonstration of his dedication to the residents and families that have come through the center’s doors.

“This project represents a meaningful investment in both our residents and the broader community we serve,” Echo said. “It reflects a commitment to enhancing quality of life, fostering connection, and creating an environment where individuals feel valued and engaged.”

In addition to the photos, Jerred included the poem, “When Tomorrow Starts Without Me” by David M. Romano, as a focal point to remind everyone that tomorrow isn’t goodbye – it’s a “see you later.”

“What I want people to take away from this is, if people pass here or they were here for brief time and exited this world peacefully at home, that no one is forgotten at Soldier’s Grove,” Jerred said.

If you do not see your family member on the wall, and they were a staff member or received care at Soldier’s Grove Health Services, email jvolden@nshorehc.com.