Bev Walker celebrates 39 years of service

 On Monday, January 31, Beverly Walker, a licensed practical nurse at The Lodge at MapleCreek in Grand Rapids, will celebrate 39 years of employment with Lutheran Social Services of Michigan. When Bev began working for the skilled nursing center in 1972, it was called Luther Home and was located in downtown Grand Rapids. The center moved to the current MapleCreek campus, originally called Luther Village, in 1987. It was completely renovated with a new rehabilitation center addition two years ago.

Earlier in her nursing career, Bev had worked on the property that is now MapleCreek. She took a job at the Maple Grove Medical Care Facility located there. "I lived across the street," she said. "I needed to be able to walk to work, because we had only one car."

The center eventually merged with Sunshine Hospital, a tuberculosis sanatorium that became Kent Community Hospital and was relocated to Fuller Avenue north of the Ford Freeway. "I stayed on with them for another year, and then saw the ad for the old Lutheran home on Division Street," she said.

She has seen a lot of changes over the years. "The newly renovated Lodge building is fantastic, and the people here are wonderful." Bev admits to being 'retirement age,' but she's not ready to retire. "I like it here, and I like what I do," she said. "It's nice that some residents know you and remember your name. They're like family."