Dream Come True

U.S. Naval Air Corps veteran John Lewis is happy to welcome guests to his room at Park Centre’s Memory Wing. During a visit, the pilot will regale his company with stories of flying the Douglas SBD Dauntless and Curtiss SB2C Helldiver with details like his flights happened yesterday.

“I always wanted to see some foreign countries. I went as far as Gibraltar, all over the Caribbean, Brazil Chile, Peru,” said Lewis, who just five minutes later shared the same story. “We went to Brazil, Chile, Peru, all over the Caribbean.”

While Lewis’ short-term memory is fading, his passion for flying and his memories of his active duty service in World War II and Korean War remain strong and vivid.

“That was his entire life,” said Darla Sudbrink, director of activities at Park Centre in Newton. “He can show everyone the planes he flew, tell them why he flew them at certain times. Now he is a man of few words but he knows so much about planes.”

During a recent conversation about planes, flying and seeing the world, Lewis confided to Sudbrink his desire to fly again. Sudbrink went to work to make Lewis’ hope a reality, and contacted Johnson Aviation President/Co-owner Ethan Nasalroad, who agreed to take the veteran on a flight.

“It seemed like the least we could do given his service to our country,” the pilot said.

Lewis, accompanied by staff from Park Centre, traveled to meet Nasalroad at the Newton Airport on May 8.

“We flew straight and level. I think I got the controls a little bit. It’d been a long time since flying. I think I flew for a little bit. We flew straight and level,” Lewis said of his scenic flight over Newton.

Helping Lewis get into the cockpit of a plane for another flight is something Nasalroad won’t soon forget.

“I think he enjoyed it as he had a grin on his face the whole time,” said Nasalroad, president and co-owner of Johnson Aviation. “We were very happy to help Park Centre accommodate John’s request. It was our pleasure to meet John and help the staff who are doing such a great service for their residents.”

It was a special day for Park Centre staff too.

“He jumped up on the wing and was in the plane just like he had done it a million times,” Sudbrink said.

Now that Lewis has checked off another trip among the clouds, Sudbrink said she is working to help other residents get to enjoy things they love or would like to do again.

“This all started when another resident Bill (Prochaska) said ‘I’m just gonna tell you while you are young and can travel, go and do what you want.’ We all have things that we have wanted to do or would love to do again,” she said. “And now, myself and the staff are working to help people do those things that they have dreamt of doing but maybe couldn’t because didn’t have the money or had young kids.”

Sudbrink said she is working on filling requests as they are shared with staff. Prochaska, who loves collecting rocks and traveling, went on a trip to Luther College in Decorah with a group from a fellow Wesley Life Community. She is trying to fulfill the wish of a dream vacation by writing TV host Ellen DeGeneres to request help in sending two women on a cruise. Another elderly woman, who has memory issues and believes she still has young children at home, often shares about wanting a spa day, so Sudbrink is collaborating with Aleya Salon Suites Day & Spa in Newton to make it happen.

“It just feels good to make that happen again for John, and for Bill to go on his trip,” she said. “We’ve always done little things here and there, but now we are working hard to get so-called bucket lists done.”