Joanne and Ricky Ressler’s story is one of hard work, community involvement, and passion for exploration. Their journey took them from the town of Ephrata, to traveling the world, and eventually finding a vibrant and active lifestyle at Luther Acres – A Luthercare Community.
After working for years as a machinist and tool and die maker in Ephrata, Ricky was ready to take on a new challenge. He accomplished that by co-founding Astro Machine Works with three partners in 1984 and creating a company that would have a lasting impact. Joanne worked in the garment industry as a quality control representative — a position that allowed her to travel extensively across the United States and the Caribbean.
In addition to their work, both took great pride in supporting their community where they were involved in local development efforts and activities. Ricky even served as a Councilman for Ephrata Borough for a period of eight years, contributing to the growth and development of their hometown.
After building up their careers and enriching the community, Joanne and Ricky turned their focus to another great adventure: travel. Their expeditions began with trips across the United States, where they would take long weekends to explore cities like New Orleans, Boston, and Chicago. Their love of sightseeing together only deepened during an unforgettable visit to Alaska, where they made the decision to retire and travel full-time. This idea took them across the globe, starting with Australia, then New Zealand, Fiji, several Scandinavian countries, Europe, Turkey, Greece, Kenya, Egypt, Iceland, Russia, Spain, Portugal, and more. Ricky summed up their spontaneous approach to travel by saying, “If you’re going to go to Greece, you might as well go to Turkey, right? And well, then you might as well go to Cyprus.”
After years of seeing the world, Ricky and Joanne decided to “retire from retirement,” and began their search for a senior living community that would support their adventurous lifestyle. After researching several options, they found Luther Acres, where the openness of residents and staff made them feel at home. “From the very first visit, we noticed the community here. Everybody was so friendly. Everybody said hello,” Ricky said. Soon after that initial visit, the Resslers joined the Priority Wait List, became more connected to the community, and began attending campus events. Fourteen months later, they would officially move into Luther Acres as residents.
Now that they’ve settled in, Ricky and Joanne are continuing to be physically and socially active. Both are frequent visitors to our campus Wellness Center where they regularly take fitness classes and work out in the gym. Being close to downtown Lititz also provides the pair with opportunities to explore local restaurants and cafes or take a hike on the nearby Rail Trail.
For entertainment, both attend the many events we host on campus, including guest speakers, musicians, and shows. For Joanne, the abundance of activities makes life here feel exciting. “It’s like being on a cruise ship. There’s always something to do, we have a busy schedule, and a full bulletin board of activities,” she said.
One of the things that has stood out most to Ricky and Joanne about their experience is the staff’s dedication to providing the best possible living experience. “The staff really does want us to have the best life we can. They are extremely helpful with any questions we have,” Ricky shared. Joanne echoed this sentiment, adding, “When we call for something, there’s always someone here within a couple of hours. They’re so friendly and make us feel like they’re happy to be here.”
For the Resslers, life at Luther Acres has provided them the perfect blend of excitement, comfort, and community. “After the first night we were here, we got up and Ricky said, ‘You know, I slept better already knowing I’m here and don’t have to worry about anything.’ That’s when you know you made the right decision,” said Joanne.
Luthercare communities have many opportunities for residents like the Resslers to be socially, physically, and mentally active. To learn more about the many benefits and opportunities available at our communities, contact us today!