Don DeKraker has something extra exciting to look forward to at the end of this month, and it’s not Halloween. This year, he will be celebrating his 100th birthday surrounded by family and his new friends at Evergreen Senior Living at Orland Park. DeKraker moved into The Legacy: Memory Care community in September 2017.
A World War II Purple Heart recipient, DeKraker has always enjoyed being active and staying involved in his community. As he settles into his new home at Evergreen Senior Living at Orland Park, he can continue participating in his favorite activities, and partake in some new ones, thanks to the vibrant Orland Park campus and the abundance of organized activities for community members.
Celebrations are in store for DeKraker in October with family, friends, and members of DeKraker’s Tinley Park VFW post joining him for a birthday party at our Orland Park campus. DeKraker shows no signs of slowing down after turning 100; he still has a flight on an old B-24 or B-17 airplane on his bucket list.
DeKraker isn’t the only member of The Legacy: Memory Care community at Evergreen Senior Living at Orland Park to have a milestone birthday approaching. Two additional seniors will be turning 100 years old at the beginning of 2018, and the celebrations will continue.
DeKraker’s daughter Linda Connors says, “Dad has had an amazing life, and is continuing to live each day with enthusiasm as he settles into his new home at Evergreen Senior Living.”
Evergreen Senior Living cares for local seniors by offering both Assisted Living and Memory Support living options. Contact Evergreen Senior Living by calling (708) 479-1082 or visit the Evergreen Senior Living campus at 10820 183rd Street, Orland Park, IL60467. To learn more or to schedule a tour online at www.evergreenslc.com/orlandpark.
Evergreen Senior Living is a division of Heritage Enterprises, Inc., which was founded in 1962 and is involved in a variety of residential and health care services for seniors. The company opened the first nursing home in Bloomington, Illinois, where Heritage is headquartered. Today, the company employs over 4,300 people and owns or manages over 50 facilities throughout Illinois and Indiana. Heritage offers RESTORE therapy services, skilled nursing services, sheltered care, respite care, and institutional pharmacy services (Green Tree Pharmacy). Additionally, Heritage owns and manages supportive living, licensed assisted living and independent living facilities. For more information about Heritage, please visit www.HeritageOfCare.com.
Additional information about Don DeKraker:
DeKraker was born on October 31, 1917, in Holland, Michigan. Originally, doctors thought that DeKraker did not survive birth and wrapped him in newspaper until a determined nurse was able to revive him. DeKraker went on to marry his wife of 63 years, Lorraine, and have three children, plus five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Serving in the Air Force during World War II, DeKraker was presented with multiple awards and medals—most notably, he was awarded a Purple Heart for an injury sustained during a bombing run in southern Germany. DeKraker has stayed actively involved with his local church, American Legion, and VFW. He enjoys golfing, gardening, bowling, fishing, and boating, and spends time doing these activities with his family whenever possible.
The Orland Park Prairie
Below is an article about Don DeKraker published in The Orland Park Prairie. Download a copy of this article.