Mrs. Wiesner, a retired nurse with the Visiting Nurses Association, single-handedly developed an Alzheimer's support group, the first of its kind in the Fox Cities. Their strong belief in health care for all people, coupled with their desire to serve the community through public service, has earned the Wiesners the 2001 Walter L. Rugland Community Service Award. They have used their insights, their drive and their love of the area to take us places we'd never been before. The award is named for Rugland's father, who was AAL's president from 1958 to 1972 and board chairman until 1976. The funds are earmarked for palliative care training.
Palliative care is comprehensive care for people with incurable illnesses.
It defines a community. Quality health care programs really are at the cornerstone for what a community stands for. Mr. Wiesner first became involved with health care issues in 1986 when he was asked to join the Theda Clark Medical Center Board of Trustees. He served on the hospital board until 1988. After sitting on the Theda Clark board, Mr. Wiesner served on the ThedaCare board of trustees from 1987 to 1996, serving as chairman from 1991 to 1996.