Ann LaPres-Hindes - Treasurer

 As a registered nurse at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial, a highly respected and informal leader of clinicians, and the founder of the Newaygo County Compassion Home, Ann LaPres-Hindes had a vision and a goal – to help ensure that the citizens of Newaygo County were able to spend their last days on earth in a peaceful, supportive, loving and home-like atmosphere. Along with her passion for hospice work, Ann brings years of HR and bookkeeping knowledge, as well as extensive nursing experience in an Intensive Care Unit. Ann’s formal education includes an associate’s degree in nursing from Muskegon Community College, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) from Baker College. She was Muskegon Community College’s Hadden Award recipient, which was given each year to a member of the graduating class who was chosen for superior scholarship and demonstrated the qualities that reflect the spirit of nursing. Ann has been married to her husband Craig for more than 35 years and has raised four adult children. She and Craig are also owners of Scott’s Meats Inc. in Muskegon, Michigan. When not working, Ann loves spending time with her children and five grandchildren, as well as traveling, enjoying the outdoors, reading and serving others.

Cheri Spoelma  

Cheri Spoelma, a chemistry, food science and forensic science teacher at Newaygo High School, and the Science Department team leader, has been a long time Newaygo County resident and community supporter. She has raised more than $20,000 through Grants for classroom equipment, and has also designed and taught a variety of educational courses that have provided our children with a foundational understanding and appreciation for chemistry and science, including an ACT preparation course which met the State of Michigan standards. Cheri has served on the Providence Christian School Education Team from 2008-2012 and the PBIS SWIS Data team from 2015-2018. She is a graduate of Fremont High School, who holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University, and a Masters in Teaching from Aquinas College. Before teaching, Cheri worked for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission at D.C. Cook Nuclear Power Plant in the role of a certified Nuclear Safety Inspector, and for Detroit Fermi as a Nuclear & Chemical Quality Assurance Engineer. In addition to being on the NCCH board, Cheri is also a board member for the Newaygo County Communities of Hope. Cheri is the wife of Ross Spoelma, a pharmacist at White Cloud Family Health Care. She has a daughter Evie Moore, the owner and operator of Evermore Equine, who lives in North Carolina with her husband Brandon, and a son Ben Hollerbach, who is a medical device sales manager for Stryker ENT.  

Pam zuchowski

Pam Zuchowski is a lifelong Fremont resident and has recently retired from a 35-year teaching career. She earned her bachelor's degree from Ferris State University and her master's in educational technology from Grand Valley State University. Pam spent her teaching career in adult and alternative education, including 12 years teaching in the Newaygo County Jail. She taught in both the Newaygo and Fremont Public School Districts. Pam is a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fremont where she is chairperson of the public relations board and also volunteers in many other capacities. 

 

Along with her husband Tim, Pam enjoys all outdoor activities, travel, reading, and paper crafting. The Zuchowski's have two daughters, Karlie, and Kenzie.

 Rick Anderson

 Content coming soon.

Madison kartes

Madison grew up in Fremont and was a graduate of the class of 2005. She has a background in both education and business. Madison taught lower elementary school for seven years before switching careers to work for her family's small business.

 

Madison was exposed to end of life care at an early age. She watched her mother compassionately care for her sick grandfather and grandmother for many years. When her grandfather was hospitalized for extended periods of time due to leukemia, Madison felt called to visit and spend time with him in the hospital. Madison would spend many visits doing crosswords puzzles and watching "Touched by an Angel" with her "Pippi". These experiences led Madison to want to serve the Compassion Home in a bigger way.

 

You can find Madison and her three children tending to the bird feeders and the bird baths at The Compassion Home each week. Madison is passionate about teaching youth to serve their community at an early age. In her spare time Madison enjoys spending time with her husband Trevor, along with their three children - Liv, Graham, & Owen.

Melissa Langholz

Melissa is a native of Michigan who has a joy and love for volunteering. Her heart of service started through opportunities in the church, which inspired a deep appreciation for how Christian service can improve the quality of the community. Through Christian non-profits Melissa has been led to international service on medical mission trips with her husband over the past 7 years. Melissa’s medical professional life started many years ago as a medical assistant in an urgent care facility. God opened doors to the business side of medical practice which led to director of operations for a medical billing and management company and finally to an office manager position for a large medical practice. This combination allows Melissa the opportunity to use her business skills with her heart for service.

When she is not busy as wife, mother, and grandmother, she loves to fish and work in the garden.

 2024 - Open Board position

 If interested in leaning more about Board positions with the Newaygo County Compassion Home please call Diane the Executive Director at  231-335-2625 .