InTouch
N E W S L E T T E R
Our Mission
Honoring every moment of life, Pathways
Hospice provides compassionate, excellent,
comprehensive care for those who have an
advanced medical condition and those
who are grieving.
A World War II Veteran Remembers
There are approximately 38,000
veterans living in Larimer and Weld
County (2009). At Pathways Hospice
we are privileged to provide service
inside this issue
to some of those men and women
and their families. The Pathways
A World War II Veteran Remembers
Hospice Honoring Veteran’s program
Community Supporters Share Their
was created in order to recognize the
Time and Talents
contributions of veterans and address
Pathways Hospice Working Hard To
the unique needs they may have with
Implement Electronic Medical Records
a life-limiting illness. This program
Pathways Hospice Extends Service To
focuses on providing respectful,
Greeley and Surrounding Area
compassionate care, recognition of
First Flag-Raising In the New Honoring service and specialized support for
Veterans Garden
families.
Upcoming Events
Interdisciplinary Team Integral In
Providing Hospice Care
Dan Dennis, Pathways Hospice CFO,
Receives Award
Colorado Gives Day A Big Success
Recently, we had the honor of talking
with Earl Rathke and his son, Gary,
to learn about Earl’s experience in
the military. Mr. Rathke is now 91
years old. His son, Gary, visits him
often. On the day we visited to talk
with Earl about his time in the Army
Air Force, his face lit up with a joyful
smile when he saw his son walk into
the room. Gary was loving and gentle
as he encouraged his father to share
memories from such a long time ago.
In November of 1942, when Earl was
just 22 years old, he enlisted in the
a community-based non-profit agency
Army Air Force. He was trained as
a pilot, receiving his pilot wings in
August of 1943. Eventually, Earl
was assigned to the 92nd Bomb
Group, 407th Bomb Squadron, whose
nickname was “The Favored Few.”
Over the next several months, Earl and
his squad flew missions over Germany.
Earl remembers those missions as
being very dangerous. On one flight,
an American plane was shot close
enough to Earl’s plane for him to feel
the heat of the blast. “I could see
the guys getting blown out of the
thing.” On February 24, 1944, Earl
and the crew were on a mission to
Schwienfort, Germany, the location of
continued on page 2
Winter 2012