by Dennis Dalman
Employees of Country Manor Health Care and Retirement Community were stunned and saddened when they heard Brian Kelm had died at home unexpectedly May 18. Kelm was only 59 years old.
For 35 years, Kelm had been Country Manor’s CEO. He was described as being a kind, friendly, compassionate man by his colleagues and residents of Country Manor. (See Kelm’s obituary in this newspaper).
Country Manor began 50 years ago as a 64-bed nursing facility. It now has two campuses (Sartell and St. Joseph) on a total of 160 acres.
Emily Frericks is the executive director of marketing/public relations and talent/culture for Country Manor, Sartell campus. She shared her thoughts and comments about Kelm with the Newsleaders.
“Brian had such a special way of making everyone feel heard, seen and important. He was a man of strong faith who loved his family fiercely and was truly dedicated to the work we do at Country Manor. I was blessed to work with him for 15 years and to have known him personally for many more years. He was my mentor for sure, but he also felt like family.
“As a leader, he had perfected the balance of holding his team accountable but also giving us wings to fly. He trusted us whole-heartedly and always had our back. But he also never shied away from a ‘teaching’ moment.
“(During) the course of this last week, I can’t count the number of times staff and residents have approached me to tell stories about how Brian knew them by name or how he sought them out to check in. That’s who he was. He cared so genuinely for others. He changed lives. Mine included.
“He will be extremely missed, but we know he’d want us to forge ahead. To take everything he taught us and pour it back into the work we do and into each other. I have no doubt Brian’s legacy will be felt here every day until the end of time. He loved Country Manor and the family we created within this community. We all do. That’s why we’re here.”
