Contact:
WDVA Office of Public Affairs
Carla Vigue, Director
at (608) 266-0517
[email protected]
KING – Following months of gathering input, planning and construction, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Secretary Daniel J. Zimmerman, along with members, volunteers, and staff at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King celebrated the grand reopening of its café with a ribbon-cutting ceremony today.
The innovative design for the gathering place centered on the preferences from the more than 600-member community at the top-rated facility. New amenities include an expanded menu with many new made-to-order options like burgers, pizzas and appetizers, a salad bar, new flooring, new furniture and an open concept with an incredible view of Rainbow Lake on the Chain of Lakes in Waupaca.
“Our Veterans Home at King is a shining example of the care our nation’s heroes deserve,” Zimmerman said. “Giving our members at our three Veterans homes the high-quality care they deserve as well as the amenities that make these homes a comfortable place to live is a top priority. The rejuvenation of this café wouldn’t have been possible without the input of our members, staff and the volunteers who spend so much time here. The café can now be enjoyed by Veterans, families and friends for years to come.”
Longtime volunteer Will “Twiggy” Johnson was integral in the remodeling process. As the chairman of the Veterans Home at King’s Recreation Committee, Johnson and the committee provided input to those working on the project to find a balance of new technology and services and old features they’ve become accustomed to in an effort to create an inviting atmosphere that allows for a relaxing dining and lounging experience.
“The café was there for years and needed some sprucing up and a new, fresh look,” Johnson said. “The changes to the café are great, and the members really like it; they’re really happy with it.”
The Veterans Café is located inside the Marden Activity Center. The renovation project is just one aspect of an overall transformation of the central facility. The King Exchange was moved into the Center to improve access, the Alley 5 bar got a facelift, and other upgrades around the building were made, such as new flooring and furniture.
More changes are planned. A new Veterans museum will open this spring on the main level and the waterfront side of the Marden Activity Center will undergo a major landscape project to improve member access and safety.
For its astounding effort and future construction plans, the Veterans Home was presented with a 2017 Facelift Award from the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce in January. The award is presented to area businesses which make changes that aesthetically improve the environment of the city or area.
The WDVA’s Veterans Home at King has more than 130 years of providing around-the-clock care and amenities for America’s heroes. All branches of the armed forces are represented at the home, which is one of three across the state operated by the WDVA. King is ranked in the top 15 percent of all skilled nursing facilities in the nation.
