Dale Dahlke has lived in Lake Country for about 45 years and has worked in several positions with Shorehaven for 35 years. He is currently the CEO and thoroughly enjoys fulfilling it’s mission: “Reflecting Christ’s love, we provide homes and resources for seniors.” He is active in his church, Hope. Dale grew up on a dairy farm in Denmark, WI and knows about commitment to work. He has done a little bit of everything in his life from farming to food service, janitorial to retail, education to health care.
About Dale Dahlke
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I am married to my wonderful, supportive wife Rachel. We have 3 adult children; Sarah, Amanda, and Nathan. Together with their spouses and our 8 grandchildren, we all live in the same subdivision. We get to be very involved in our grandchildren’s lives. Amanda has also worked at Shorehaven, for 23 years, currently as Reception Coordinator. Grandma Rachel is caregiver for our three youngest grandchildren (10 months, 2 years, 3 years) and an active volunteer at our Church. Family time is very important to us.
Q: Please tell us about your life and what you do (whether working in our community, a business owner, volunteer, etc.). How did you choose that path?
I don’t think so much that I chose this path as that the path chose me. I grew up on a farm outside of Green Bay. Being the oldest of three, there were two more to help with the farming so I looked for other job opportunities. I worked on an egg farm, worked for a farm implement dealer and even owned my own restaurant. Didn’t find a niche.
I decided to go back to school and attended St. Norbert’s, De Pere, as a music major. Then transferred to Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN as a theology major. I finished at Mankato State as an education major. As a called worker of the church, I was principal and teacher at Holy Trinity Lutheran School in Okauchee. I was recruited to be Director of Lake Terrace Apartments at Shorehaven Campus and have held several positions at Lutheran Homes of Oconomowoc, Inc. since.
Q: What do you love most about what you do?
The people. The people I work with and the people I work for. Those I work with have a passion for working with the seniors of our community. The seniors, the people I work for, because of who they are and what I can learn from them. Everyone at Shorehaven, employees and residents alike, feel like family to me.
Q: What was the most difficult challenge in getting to where you are now or in your life?
Perhaps one of the most difficult challenges that I’ve confronted in my professional life is the challenge that senior/elder health care faces. We are one of the most strictly regulated (forms, compliance, procedures, time frames) industries, both by state and federal governments. Also one of the most severely underfunded. Governmental long term care reimbursement is not good. Providing quality care at an affordable cost is a challenge.
Q: What is the most rewarding part?
The most rewarding part is that we get to help people as they navigate growing old. None of us knows what the Lord has in store for us. We have a full range of services: independent living, assisted living, nursing home, hospice and memory care. Here at Lutheran Homes we have the privilege of helping seniors and their families find their way through all stages.
Q: What are some of your future goals? Do you have anything exciting coming up that you would like to share?
Ever since I have been in a position to hire people it has been my goal to hire people smarter than me. That continues to be my goal today. It is my goal to have people around me at Lutheran Homes that live the culture our founders created. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone and to know that the future of senior healthcare is guided by those principals is my goal.
We have support groups for Alzheimers and Parkinsons which meet regularly. We partner with others to provide Grief Support Groups, and “Ted Talk” type programs like one we had with Oconomowoc High School students who were involved with “Device Help for Seniors.” Coming up on November 7, 2023, we will be hosting former Governor Martin J. Schreiber who will be speaking at our Life Enrichment Building on his journey in providing care for his wife Elaine as they confronted Alzheimers. If anyone is interested in attending his free talk, please reach out to Jill Halliburton, our Life Enrichment Coordinator, at 262-567-8341 ext 1298, or 262-354-1375. Reservations required.
Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in doing something similar to what you have done/are doing?
Be ready for servant leadership and tenacity to succeed.
Dale Dahlke & Our Community
Q: What is your favorite thing about our community, favorite thing to do, or something unique about our community that you love? (Feel free to share as much as you’d like!)
Maybe not my favorite thing, but I would have to say that I don’t mind stopping at the crosswalks in Oconomowoc for all the folks to cross the street. I remember a time when things weren’t so alive in downtown Oconomowoc. To be able to drive through town and see the storefronts lit up and people milling around is an uplifting feeling. I don’t even mind searching for a parking place.
Q: Who is an interesting person you’ve met here in our community, and how have they inspired you?
I have to tell you that over my career at Shorehaven I have met so many elders that have inspired me. We’ve been privileged to assist those who helped to create what Lake Country is today. Each of them gives me inspiration to continue to do the best I can.
Q: Do you have a favorite coffee shop, cocktail shop, or restaurant?
I’m biased here, I think that Cafe’ LaBelle here on our Shorehaven campus is a great place to grab a cup of coffee or lunch. It is open to the public and located on the north/lake side of our campus at 1306 W. Wisconsin Ave., Oconomowoc. A fun side note, the logo for our Cafe LaBelle displayed inside was crafted by the Oconomowoc High School fab lab.
Q: What 3 words would you use to describe our community?
Vibrant, engaging, inviting.
For Fun
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Although I’ve taken swimming lessons several times, I still sink like a stone.
Q: What is your favorite book, TV show, movie, poem, or song? Why?
My favorite TV and movie series would have to be Star Trek. A moral surrounded by sci-fi.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
Once again, too many people to count. I think that in elder care we are all inspired to do better by the elders that we come in contact with. We grow through each encounter. I love them for who they are now, not only for what they were or did in the past.
Q: If you were a drink (can be a coffee drink, alcoholic, non-alcoholic, etc.), what would you be?
Black coffee. Anyone who has been in my office has seen the sign over my desk – All I need today is a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be with? Why?
Job of the old testament. He faced tremendous hardships and personal grief and pain and never lost faith in his God.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
No bucket list, I live the opportunities each day brings.
Q: What makes you the happiest?
Road trips with Rachel in our Buick Cascada Convertible. We love getting into the convertible and driving without any particular destination in mind. Together, we discover back roads, communities, new sights. We de-compress while enjoying the ride and fresh air.
Q: Any general life advice you would like to share?
Prioritize your life; God, Family, Work.
Where to Find Dale Dahlke
Email: ddahlke@lho.org
Phone: (262) 567-8341
