Don Fike, Developer

The history of the retirement complexes began in 1987 when Developer Donald E. Fike sold a nursing home in Galesburg, IL and built Seminary Manor, which is a 121 bed Medicare certified Skilled nursing facility. The Manor offers many services, including Bounce Back rehabilitation services and a Garden Court designed to offer services for those with Alzheimer’s and related dementia.

Seminary Manor

In 1988 a retirement apartment for independent living was built next to Seminary Manor and was named Seminary Estates. The Estates was built for seniors wanting to live independently, but worry free. The month-to-month rent includes two meals per day, utilities (excluding phone), cable TV, weekly housekeeping, scheduled transportation, beauty/barber shop, activities, and most importantly, socialization. Meals are served buffet style with a family style atmosphere that many folks now call “home”.

Seminary Estates

Continued success expanded to additional campus’ offering the same concept for nursing homes and retirement apartments. Seminary Estates and Seminary Manor were named after the street where they are located in Galesburg, IL. The names of many of the existing and future projects are referred to as Liberty Village.

Mr. Fike then envisioned a need for single family housing for the retiree. In 1997 he decided to begin his first phase of Seminary Villas in Galesburg where the other facilities had originally begun. Again, like the other projects, the Villas were a huge success. The Villas, which are on many of the complexes now, are spacious homes featuring two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and attached garages, and are built for the first phase of retirement downsizing.

Villa Home

Although the campus’ offer independent retirement living represented by our Villas and Estates, as well as our nursing home for skilled care, this was not yet the complete continuum of care. The next project was that of assisted living, and in 1999 the Hawthorne Inn was built. Again, the first was built in Galesburg. Construction began for the assisted living home, designed for people who need a level of service somewhere between independent retirement living and skilled nursing care. Levels of care are offered at the Hawthorne Inn, which includes 3 meals per day with a choice of entrees and that little extra help with every day living routines such as dressing, bathing, and medication reminders.

Hawthorne Inn

Every phase of retirement is covered at the Villages. What remains “Special” regarding the village campus’ is that, not only is the transition made easy due to the fact once on the campus, you have a priority admission status to the other facilities, but the peace of mind for family members or loved ones. When the time comes that health status changes in a person, there is no searching for placement, as placement is right next door at many of the villages.

Don Fike had the vision and foresight for his dream campus to become a reality. Knowing his priorities for the continuum of care for our seniors speaks volumes of his dedication. He has an amazing ability to envision what the future needs and acts upon this sight. He has an amazing legacy to leave behind and grand memories of inspiration for anyone who has the pleasure of knowing him.