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Gus VanderVeen knows a thing or two about service. A Vietnam-era veteran, Gus’s life journey has been shaped by duty, devotion, and a deep-rooted faith. He speaks of his military service with quiet humility. “It changes you,” he says. “You carry it with you.” And that impact, while challenging to sum up in a single sentence, shows in the way Gus lives, with gratitude, reflection, and an enduring sense of purpose.…

After a long career in education, including teaching in Michigan’s prison system and serving as an academic consultant, Jane Boeve found her next chapter in the library at Royal Park Place. What began as simply “filling a need” has become a meaningful way to serve her community. …

When Nancy’s father, Tom Murphy, broke his hip the day after his 95th birthday, she didn’t realize that fall would change everything. After his hospital stay during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tom’s memory declined to the point where he could no longer live safely on his own.…

Both Becky’s and Marilyn’s passion for gardening began in childhood. Marilyn and her twin sold vegetables around the lake in summer. Becky eventually earned a degree in horticulture. Their paths eventually led to Royal Park Place, each under different circumstances. Both women discovered that, despite the challenges of aging and health setbacks, gardening provided healing, beauty, and purpose. …