City of Waupun leaders recently came together to celebrate a significant milestone for SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital, issuing a formal mayoral proclamation recognizing 75 years of service to the community.

Signed by Rohn W. Bishop, City of Waupun mayor, the proclamation honors the hospital’s enduring commitment to compassionate care, innovation and partnership.

“Waupun Memorial Hospital has stood with our community through every season of life – through illness and recovery, through birth and loss,” according to Mayor Bishop. “This milestone is a testament to the people who have dedicated themselves to caring for others and to a mission that continues to make a difference every day.”

The proclamation reflects on the hospital’s founding on July 5, 1951, when it first opened its doors through the collective vision of local municipalities and the School Sisters of St. Francis, with a commitment to care for all individuals regardless of background.

Over the past 75 years, SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital has grown alongside the community, expanding services and facilities to meet evolving needs. Today, the hospital offers a broad range of care – from advanced imaging and outpatient surgery to rehabilitation and maternal services – supported by significant facility investments over time.

Mayor Bishop also highlighted the hospital’s broader role in shaping the community.

“Our hospital is more than a place people go for care – it’s an essential part of the fabric of Waupun,” he says. “From its role as a major employer to its commitment to community wellness, SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital continues to strengthen our city and surrounding communities.”

Throughout its history, the hospital has served as an economic and educational anchor, helped train health care professionals, expanded access through regional clinics and earned national recognition for quality care.

That legacy continues today. SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital cares for approximately 17,000 patients each year and recently earned a CMS 5-Star Quality Rating, along with recognition as a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital – affirming its leadership in rural health care quality and patient safety.

In the proclamation, Mayor Bishop expressed gratitude for the generations of caregivers, staff and volunteers who have supported the hospital’s mission.

“We recognize the physicians, nurses, administrators, support staff, and volunteers who have made this hospital what it is today,” he says. “Their dedication ensures that high-quality, compassionate care remains close to home for our residents.”

As SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital marks its 75th anniversary, the City of Waupun’s proclamation serves as both a celebration of its rich history and a powerful acknowledgment of the people who continue to carry its mission forward.

Kathy Schlieve, city administrator, and Dan Siebers, city council, also joined DeAnn Thurmer, SSM Health St. Clare Hospital – Baraboo/SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital/SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital president, and Nicole Gill, SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital/SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital vice president, clinical administrator.

“Receiving this proclamation from the City of Waupun is a meaningful honor for all of us at SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital,” according to Thurmer. “It reflects not only 75 years of caring for this community, but also the strong partnership we’ve shared with our city leaders and residents since the very beginning. We are incredibly grateful to the City of Waupun for recognizing this milestone and for their continued support of our mission.”

SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital invites the community to join them from 10 am – 12 pm on Sunday, June 28 to recognize its 75th anniversary. The event will feature refreshments in the cafeteria, as well as the unveiling of a new Agnesian HealthCare Foundation donor wall and a look at the hospital’s community art display across from the gift shop.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized by the City of Waupun as we celebrate this 75th anniversary milestone,” Gill shares. “This proclamation is a tribute to generations of caregivers, volunteers and community members who have helped build a legacy of compassionate, high-quality care close to home. We are proud to continue that legacy and remain committed to serving Waupun for many years to come.”

Kathy Schlieve, City of Waupun administrator, Rohn W. Bishop, City of Waupun mayor, and Dan Siebers, Waupun City Council, joined DeAnn Thurmer (second from left), SSM Health St. Clare Hospital – Baraboo/SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital/SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital president, and Nicole Gill (second from right), SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital/SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital vice president, clinical administrator.

Date posted: June 16, 2026