More than 40 years ago a dream began to grow in the hearts of a faithful Methodist couple.  They dreamed of building a retirement home for those they loved.  Minnie Lines Sauber Johns and her husband Roy, planted the first seed of their dream when they gave sixteen acres of land to the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Their dream took hold and began to grow in the hearts of others as they envisioned a retirement community unlike any other.  Committees were formed, an administrator was hired and the cultivation began.  Through the years with the vision and dedication of community leaders like John R. Van Sickle, Robert A. Mulligan, Harold McElvany, Robert Skolrood, Wayne H. Diehl, and Administrator Edwin S. Hunt, along with the continued generosity of Minnie Johns and many like her, including the Northern Illinois Conference of the UMC, the project took life and began to grow.

Like its namesake, the willow tree, the dream grew slowly. Time after time there were setbacks.   But it was the faith of these dear people and so many more through the years that kept the dream alive.  In June of 1964, ground was broken and construction began. During these years of development, it was the guidance of skilled engineers like Henry C. Arndt that moved construction forward.  The first resident moved into an apartment in June of 1966. Years of continuous growth followed with the addition of Willows on Main from 1969 to 2005, the Willows Health Center in 1973, and the first cottage in 1978. 

In the following years, with the guidance of CEO Robert E. Ash, Wesley Willows continued to grow with the addition of the Hunt Personal Care Center in 1986, renovation of Willows on Main in 1992, and the Kirk Alzheimer’s Activity Center in 1996.  By 1999, the tiny dream had grown into a retirement community that was ready for expansion. In 1999, CEO Bill Pratt guided the decision to purchase 110 acres just to the west of the Wesley Willows campus.  A site plan was developed for 114 independent duplex homes, an independent apartment building, and a community center that envisions a fitness center, coffee shop, swimming pool, arts center and much more. 

Today, the Willow Ridge expansion is well underway with over 50 families enjoying their spacious, contemporary new homes. Development will continue in the years ahead, but through the growth, Wesley Willows has remained a leader in retirement communities in Northern Illinois. Residents have come from the entire Northern Illinois region, including Rockford, Chicago, Dixon, and DeKalb. Many more have moved from out-of-state to our campus: Arkansas, Missouri, Florida, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa and more. They all agree, “It’s What Life Was Meant To Be!”

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