Retirement home celebrates century milestone

April 23--COMFORT -- Kathy Bender said choosing to live at Hermann Sons Retirement Home was the best decision she made in recent years.

"They give us a place to find camaraderie with one another," Bender said. "I can travel; they give me my independence. As long as I don't go past the maximum of being gone 120 days, I'm fine."

The retirement home is hosting a celebration this weekend in recognition of the service Hermann Sons has provided to its older members for the past 100 years. The home, which can house up to 92 people, was built in 1915 and dedicated on May 11, 1916. Kathie Ninneman, public relations director for Hermann Sons Fraternal Insurance, said the 200-acre property was bought in 1913 by Hermann Sons for $9,000, and the citizens of Comfort helped construct the house by cutting away stone from the side of the hill.

About "6,500 people attended the dedication from across the state," Ninneman said. "They had a huge barbecue, and then Gov. James Ferguson was the keynote speaker."

The company started with a group of German decedents in Texas in 1861.

"They were feeling ostracized from society as immigrants," Ninneman said. "They came together and formed a brotherhood."

Women were permitted to join in the 1870s and members were then required to buy life insurance. The brotherhood became the Hermann Sons Life Insurance Agency and now serves about 70,000 people across Texas through 138 lodges. Benefits included with membership are youth summer camps, a network through their local lodge and opportunity to retire to the home in Comfort.

To stay at the home, residents must be able to take care of themselves. Besides paying $1,200 upfront and internet and cable, there is no rent. Services such as three meals a day and laundry are covered.

There also is a chapel and beauty parlor onsite. Hermann Sons house manager Brenda Gunnink said there always is a need for reliable and affordable retirement housing, something Hermann Sons has been able to provide.

"There is a need for a lot of people to have a place to stay and decent food," Gunnink said. "A lot of people who need a home in retirement don't have one, and this is available."

Ninneman said before food could easily be delivered to the house, residents kept gardens to collect their own food, especially during World War II.

Kim Krueger, grand vice president of Hermann Sons, said residents stay involved in the community, volunteering and making handcrafts to sell for scholarship funds.

Krueger said she is amazed at the service the retirement home has provided over the years and is excited to be a part of the organization.

"This is not a home; this is their home," Ninneman said. "They're very supportive of one another. It's a big family, and it's only a small part of the bigger Hermann Sons family."

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