Sunday, January 24, 1999
Giebel celebrates 25 years of service at Kiwanis Manor
By Malinda Ruble
Staff Writer
During the past 25 years, Tom Giebel has spent his life building a home for seniors at Kiwanis Manor. Whether it was redecorating, shoveling a walk or sitting down for a chat, Giebel was there to help.
This week Giebel was honored by the Kiwanis family with a potluck recognition dinner and took time out to reflect on his first 25 years of service as administrator.
''It was the best spread of food I've ever seen. They had residents there, the entire Kiwanian board and original board members who were here when I first started. I was showered with lots of gifts,'' he said of the party.
Two special gifts included a quilt made by the quilters at Kiwanis Manor and a digital camera.
''We've made a lot of quilts during the past 25 years and they were always raffled off and I never had a quilt. Now, I've got one and that means a lot to me. There were a lot of hours and lots of thought put into it,'' he said.
Giebel said the dinner was not only a surprise, but touching, and it gave him a chance to reflect on the early years.
''When I started, the concept of senior housing was very new nationwide. Nobody was really certain what we were supposed to do with all of these old people in one building. It was a learning experience. I grew up with the industry. I found myself on the ground level of places like the Commission on Aging,'' he said.
As the manor developed, more challenges were presented to Giebel.
''One of the most enlightening things was we had a vehicle for doctor appointments, but there was no vehicle to be used for recreation. In '84, we started a campaign. We needed $36,000. The only resources I had was the Kiwanis Club and the residents and we got the money in two months time. The pledges just started flooding in,'' he said.
More recently, Giebel discovered the seniors had a need for a service coordinator who could help them with the little daily tasks, like getting dressed or clipping toenails.
Then he received a grant for the position and addressed the need.
''And 25 years ago, we had 100 efficiencies and 36 one-bedroom apartments. We started converting the efficiencies to one-bedrooms because the need changed. In the last 18 months, we converted 27 units into 18 one-bedroom apartments. Now we have 51 one-bedrooms and 78 efficiencies,'' he said.
But perhaps the biggest accomplishment through the years for Giebel has been the friends and staff he has met.
''I am most thankful to the people I got to know over the years. You get very close to them - not only socially, but you get close to their problems, needs and wants from an economic standpoint. And you get close to their families. Having known all of the people and their families - I am a very fortunate individual to say that,'' he said.
Giebel also attributes his staff and the Kiwanis Club to the success of the manor.
''I've always been impressed by the level of support of the Kiwanis and I have been so lucky with my staff. It takes a team effort and cooperation with the staff. It's a family situation here - that means so much to me,'' he said.
Now with 25 years under his belt, is he thinking of retiring?
''I'm here. I probably treat this place like my home. I'm not going anywhere for awhile,'' he said with a grin.