A Faith-Based Senior Living Community
West Bend has been home to Cedar Community
for 70 years.
Learn more about our mission, guiding principles, leadership team, and vibrant history below.
Mission & Ministry
Cedar Community is a nonprofit Wisconsin senior living community where our residents enjoy, explore, and embrace their best lives. Our natural settings, faith-based mission, and high-quality services afford seniors the opportunity to live a more purposeful, fulfilled life among family and friends. We have senior living facilities for those 55 and better in West Bend, Wisconsin.
Our ministry program offers opportunities to worship in large and small gatherings, work with others in
fellowship and prayer, explore spirituality and diversity, and enjoy the blessings of all faith traditions. Cedar Community works in partnership with all faiths and area congregations for our residents. Together, our team members, residents, and volunteers live out the mission of Cedar Community each and every day.
Guiding Principles and Priorities
To model Jesus’ love by creating life-enhancing relationships, services, and environments.
We do this by building respectful relationships, creating welcoming and inclusive environments, and fostering wellbeing of body, mind, and spirit.
We do this by respecting, appreciating, and valuing every team member while fostering engagement, wellbeing, and growth.
We do this by delivering compassionate healthcare, life-enhancing programs, and best-in-class services.
We do this by honoring our commitments to our stakeholders, fulfilling our fiduciary obligations, and respecting our environments.
Board Members
Joe Carlson, PRESIDENT*
Retired President of Sandstone Group and Lakeside Manufacturing
Chuck O’Meara, Vice PRESIDENT*
Retired Senior Managing Director
Ziegler Companies
Tom Ross, Treasurer*
Ziegler Companies
Sheri Katzer, RN, SECRETARY*
Director of Acute Care Services
Froedtert Health
Rev. Erik Kirkegaard
Peace United Church of Christ
PATRICK O'CONNOR
Retired Senior Vice President
Commercial Banking
BMO Harris Bank
Mike Wisnefske
Retired President & Owner
West Bend Machine Works, Inc
Chris Zwygart
Chief Legal Officer
West Bend Mutual Insurance
Executive Team Members
Nicole Pretre
President & Chief Executive Officer
Sarah Malchow
Jim Karls
Chief Financial Officer
Tracy Blaubach
Kelli DERuyter
Jen Fullhart
Assisted Living
Todd Miller
Facility Operations
Milestones & History
1950s: The Beginning
The story of Cedar Community starts in the early 1950s. Aging bachelor farmer William Koehl generously donated his property overlooking West Bend’s Big Cedar Lake to the United Church of Christ (UCC) in 1953, with a vision to serve the elderly. Four years later, in 1957, Cedar Community opened its first nursing home at this location, laying the foundation for what would become a leading faith-based senior living community in Wisconsin.
1957–1991: The Riesch Era
The growth and expansion of Cedar Community was greatly guided by Executive Director Rev. Louis Riesch. Under his stewardship, the Cedar Lake Home grew over the next 35 years to provide as many as 415 skilled-care nursing home beds. Rev. Riesch was nationally recognized as a pioneer in aging services.
In 1976, he created one of the nation’s first nursing facilities dedicated solely to the unique needs of those suffering memory loss. A decade later, Cedar Valley Retreat Center was opened on 100 acres in nearby Kohlsville, along with Cedar Ridge, a 312-unit apartment complex for active and independent seniors. Rev. Riesch also supervised the development of four independent Village Home neighborhoods for active retirees and one of the nation’s first nonprofit rehabilitation agencies. Riesch retired in 1991, and passed away in 2007, leaving behind a long-lasting legacy.
1991–2016: The Jaberg Era
Rev. Riesch was succeeded by Steve Jaberg as Cedar Community’s CEO. Steve’s 24-year tenure was marked
by expansion and innovation. Under Steve’s leadership, Cedar Community expanded assisted living and rehabilitation services, establishing itself as the region’s preferred provider for short-term rehab. In 2003,
Cedar Community launched its home-based divisions.
Four years later, in 2007, Steve directed expansion into Sheboygan County with Cedar Landing in Elkhart Lake, which offered both independent homes and assisted living apartments. By 2014, The Cottages at Cedar Run garnered national attention as an innovative assisted living home for those with memory loss. Steve retired in January 2016, after a distinguished tenure.
2016–2021: The Olson Era
Steve’s successor, Lynn Olson, brought about transformative changes. He led renovations of several key Cedar Community facilities, including Cedar Bay West Assisted Living and Cedar Ridge Apartments.
In addition, he spearheaded the rebuilding of the Learning Center, now known as The Cedar Lodge, following fire damage. Furthermore, he started the expansion of the new Cedar Ridge Homes project on the Cedar Ridge Campus in 2019. Lynn retired in May 2021, leaving an impressive mark on the organization.
2021–Present: The Pretre Era
Nicole Pretre was named President & CEO in 2021 following Lynn’s retirement. Nicole led the repositioning of the legacy Cedar Lake Campus from 2022 to 2024. This effort developed The Lofts at Cedar Lake independent living, added apartments and a new level of care—independent living plus—to The Willows at Cedar Lake, and updated the Cedar Lake Health and Rehabilitation Center—an effort which included improved therapy and dining areas. In 2023, she also directed the establishment of a 100-acre conservation easement on the Cedar Lake Campus, to preserve and protect the woodlands, prairie, and 1,000 feet of undeveloped shoreline of Big Cedar Lake.
Having served on the Cedar Community executive leadership team since 2015, Nicole led the organizational rebranding of Cedar Community in 2017 in her prior role as vice president of development. She developed the award-winning Live More quarterly magazine and was named the 2020 Chief Marketing Officer of the Year by the Milwaukee Business Journal. Nicole, a Credentialed Professional Gerontologist (CPG), is a national thought-leader in aging services, and she continues to lead the strategic growth of Cedar Community, while staying true to its nonprofit mission and guiding principles and priorities.