Media Relations

March 5, 2010

As reported on Catholic Online.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Wis. (March 5, 2010) — David D. Hanneman was not going to win his fight with lung cancer, but his story is anything but a tragedy. A new book gives a highly personal look at his final months, and the miraculous parting message he left for his family.

"The Journey Home: My Father’s Story of Cancer, Faith and Life-Changing Miracles," was written by Hanneman’s son, Joseph M. Hanneman. A story that started with sadness and a deadly cancer diagnosis ended with faith-affirming lessons from a life well-lived.

“This is the story of how Dad lived with his lung cancer. But it is much more,” Hanneman wrote in the foreword to the book. “Through his illness and the miracles we experienced, I came to see that Dad’s was not just a journey. It was a journey home. Home to God.”

Hanneman writes how he got to know his father well for the first time during the elder Hanneman’s three years of illness. Each step on the journey came to convince the author that there was more going on than anyone seemed to realize. His father’s most enduring life lesson came during his final hour. Hanneman’s minute-by-minute description of this holy hour will make a deep impression on anyone who reads the story. “It left an indelible imprint on my soul,” Hanneman wrote.

Monsignor Duane Moellenberndt, the Wisconsin Catholic priest who ministered to David Hanneman during his final months, called The Journey Home “one of the most moving and inspiring works I have ever read. It is a beautiful story.” Noted Catholic author and filmmaker Stephen K. Ray said the story “should be told to the world.”

The Journey Home also describes the crucial role a hospice center near Madison, Wis., played in the family’s miraculous experiences. The HospiceCare Inc. residence took such great care of this dying man that his family could focus on spending quality time and preparing for goodbye.

“And so we talked. Mom, Amy, Marghi, David and I — recounting stories, saying ‘thank-you’ and expressing love. Over and over. These bedside conversations turned out to be one of the true blessings of the hospice experience for our family. Nothing was left unsaid,” Hanneman wrote.

The Journey Home is 160 pages and includes a section of photographs called “A Journey in Pictures.” The book is published by S+One, an imprint of Wisconsin-based Strategis One LLC. It can be purchased on the publisher’s Web site, www.journeyhomestory.com, or at Amazon.com.


Editor’s Note: High-resolution images of the book cover are available at www.journeyhomestory.com.

February 8, 2010

As reported by the Wisconsin State Journal.

by Susan Derse Phillips and Donna Katen-Bahensky

HospiceCare Inc., nationally recognized for its comprehensive and compassionate care, is a community-based hospice supporting more than 600 patients and their families throughout south-central Wisconsin. The employees and trained volunteers start each day with one goal — to help patients live life more fully.

Unfortunately, federal budget-cutters seeking to eliminate fraud and waste have inadvertently created a situation jeopardizing the future of HospiceCare and other community-owned and nonprofit hospices.

This situation results from Washington’s reaction to many “outlier” hospices owned and operated by corporate conglomerates. While there are ethically-run organizations among large corporations, the outliers have repeatedly been cited for inferior care, fraud, waste and bilking Medicare.

In contrast, studies show appropriate hospice care reduces overall Medicare spending while lengthening patients’ lives by a month on average.

Fortunately, U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold has taken a leadership role in the fight to keep community hospices viable. Recently the HospiceCare board met with Feingold to seek his help. Through his bipartisan efforts and with the support of the Wisconsin congressional delegation, the plight of community hospices has been brought to the attention of Congress.

The coming years will determine the future of community-based hospices. Contact members of Congress and ask them to protect and ensure the viability of community hospices in Wisconsin and across the nation.

— Susan Derse Phillips, president and CEO, HospiceCare Inc.; and Donna Katen-Bahensky, president and CEO, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics

February 24, 2010

As reported in the GazetteXtra.

Those attending United Way of North Rock County’s annual meeting Feb. 17 learned that so far $1.2 million had been raised toward the 2009 campaign’s $1.35 million goal.

The announcement was made by Phoebe Tobias and John Pearse, campaign co-chairs, according to a United Way press release.

“Despite the (economic) challenges, this year’s campaign was a huge success,” Tobias said. “In a time when all of us are feeling pressure, the caring people of north Rock County stepped up again and again to support their friends and neighbors in need.’’

Because more than 70 percent of campaign dollars are raised through workplace campaigns, United Way recognizes employee groups that achieve notable levels of participation and giving. Recipients of this year’s Employee Group Awards for outstanding support of the people of this community are:

-- Gold awards: Employee groups with at least 60 percent participation and $85 per capita—Adams Elementary School; Air Products; Alliant Energy; AnchorBank; Arrowhead Library System; Bank of Edgerton; Bank of Milton; City of Janesville—city manager’s office, economic development department and neighborhood services; Coldwell Banker SUCCESS; Community Action; Data Dimensions; Edison Middle School; Feingold & Read, LLP; First Community Bank Milton; Home Entry Services; HospiceCare; Jackson Elementary School; Johnson Bank; Kitson & Gaffney S.C.; M&I Bank Edgerton; Parker Community Credit Union; Rock County—administration, county clerk’s office, deferred prosecution office and real property description department; Roethe, Krohn, Pope, LLP; Salvation Army; Save-A-Lot Foods; Senior Services of Rock County; Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board; ThyssenKrupp System Engineering; United Parcel Service; United Way of North Rock County; Washington Elementary School, and YWCA of Rock County.

-- Silver Awards: Employee groups with at least 50 percent participation and $50 per capita—Associated Collectors; Blackhawk Community Credit Union; Bliss Communications—The Janesville Gazette and WCLO/WJVL Radio; Boston Store; Boy Scouts of America-Glacier’s Edge Council No. 620; Catholic Charities; Children’s Service Society; City of Janesville—community development department, engineering department, information technology department, fire department and public works/technical services; Consigny, Andrews, Hemming & Grant S.C.; Fagan Chevrolet; Harris Ace Hardware; Janesville Community Day Care; Jefferson Elementary School; Logli Supermarket; Madison Elementary School; M&I Bank; Partners in Prevention; Rock County—coroner’s office and emergency management; Rock Energy Cooperative; Roosevelt Elementary School; School District of Janesville—educational services center; Van Buren Elementary School and Wells Fargo Advisors.

-- Bronze Awards: Employee groups with at least 40 percent participation and $25 per capita—Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLC; City of Janesville (overall); City of Janesville—police department and water utility; DEBCO Corp.; Franklin Middle School; Harrison Elementary School; HealthNet of Janesville; HUFCOR; Janesville Sand and Gravel; Lincoln Elementary School; McGladrey & Pullen; Monroe Elementary School; Robert W. Baird & Co.; Rock County—human resources department, information technology department, land conservation office and surveyor’s office; Rock River Charter School; School District of Janesville (overall); Schwartz & Shea Insurance; Sedor & Hoag, S.C.; SSI Technologies; US Bank, and Wilson Elementary School.

-- Best Practices Campaign Award: This award honors the workplace that most closely demonstrates United Way’s best practices techniques in planning and implementing its campaign. Data Dimensions ran a model campaign, achieving 80 percent participation and a 12 percent increase over last year, raising over $40,000.

-- Geraldine Hedberg Tocqueville Society Award: The United Way’s most prestigious volunteer award was presented to Paul D. Benish of M&I Bank.

Officers elected

The business portion of the meeting included the election of the organization’s board of directors and officers:

-- New members, elected for a three- year term were: Bill Boyd, Boyd Consulting; Karen Schulte, School District of Janesville; and Kerry Swanson, St. Mary’s Janesville Hospital.

-- Returning members, elected for a second three-year term were: Craig Knutson, Rock County.

-- 2010 board officers are: Lynn Gardinier, board chair; Barry Badertscher, board vice-chair; John Pearse, board treasurer; Gail Graham, president, United Way of North Rock County, board secretary; John Pearse, immediate past chair.

For more information on United Way, visit uwnrc.org or call (608) 757-3040.

As published in the January issue of Brava Magazine

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