David Haertel

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.


David is presently comfortable in Hospice Care at Walnut Acres (previously known as Stephenson County Nursing Home) in Freeport, IL.  This facility is approximately one hour from home for me, just straight east on Hwy. 20, making it an easy drive (Mother Nature permitting!).  He presently has, and uses, our personal cell phone (815-281-2844) and you may phone him if you wish.  Please, though, do not inundate him with calls.  He remains very weak, but his mind is still sharp.


His diagnosis is terminal pancreatic cancer.  This was discovered three days after our 50th wedding anniversary celebration, on November 12, 2018, so it has been a dreadful month.  On December 1st, he was rushed to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City, IA (about 3 hours away).  While there, they did several procedures and conquered a massive infection.  He initially ended up in Pallative Care there.  The facility in Freeport is a VA contract clinic, so that ended some horrific financial concerns.  It is an older facility, but very nice with caring nurses that supplement the Hospice team so that he has 24-hour care.


I began this site because it has become too difficult to keep repeating his story from the beginning by phone day after day.  I hope you all understand.  Yes, feel free to call me, but only after you have checked this site for the basic update.  We both deeply appreciate your friendship and love.