Heritage Enterprises has a long tradition of providing quality nursing home care in central and northern Illinois. The first Heritage Manor opened in 1963...over 40 years ago and we now own or manage 34 facilities.

Care for seniors has changed and expanded significantly in the intervening years, but Heritage's goal of providing quality health care for the elderly has not changed. Today, Heritage still carries out the original owners' commitment to quality care. William E. "Bill" Froelich, Jr. stated it best: "We have always believed in quality before everything else."

Back in 1960 Bill Froelich realized the need for a quality nursing home designed for and dedicated to providing exactly that level of service needed by residents. As a funeral director and operator of an ambulance service, Mr. Froelich had observed various facilities, usually "made-over houses" that served as nursing homes. He presented the idea of starting a nursing home to his brother-in-law, Thomas Jefferson (of Freese and Jefferson Insurance Agency) at a Thanksgiving dinner. Soon thereafter, Mr. Froelich and Mr. Jefferson were joined by Craig Hart (former president of Champion Federal Savings and Loan) and the first Heritage Manor was built. Heritage Manor became the first full-service nursing home in Bloomington, Illinois, in 1963. This was the first of many nursing homes.

It established the foundation for Heritage Enterprises, Inc. Heritage has grown many times over since that first facility, but its values are still the same.

The Heritage headquarters is still centrally located in Bloomington, Illinois. Nine years after heritage was founded, Joe Warner, former President and CEO of Heritage Enterprises joined Mr. Froelich, Mr. Hart, and Mr. Jefferson. Mr. Warner was involved in a fatal plane crash in July of 2002 and left behind a great legacy of caring for the elderly and an experienced group of people to manage the company.

In November 2002, Steve Wannemacher was named President and Chief Executive Officer and Cheryl Lowney was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. Mr. Wannemacher and Ms. Lowney, together with Craig Ater, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Connie Hoselton, Senior Vice President of Human Resources provide leadership to the Heritage team of over 3,200 dedicated employees.

Heritage is now involved in a variety of residential and health care services for seniors including skilled and intermediate nursing care, sheltered care, respite care, therapy and institutional pharmacy, supportive living facilities, licensed assisted living and independent living. Heritage continues to be dedicated to serving the everchanging needs of seniors.

Click Here to read Our Vision Statement

Click Here to read Our Tribute to Joe Warner