A legacy and a gift

From a young age, sisters Cindy and Cheryl Vieth saw the power of philanthropy. Their parents were active in service to their church and community, and they participated in 4-H, an organization focused on youth development and civic engagement. Because of these strong philanthropic roots, the sisters carried a passion for giving back into their adult life and their work at what is now Emplify Health by Gundersen.

Before her passing in Oct. 2025, Cindy Vieth, RN, shared, "Most of my lifetime has been working here [at Gundersen], so my feeling is that I give back through my work, and I want to continue giving after I'm gone." That was her main reason for including Gundersen Medical Foundation in her will.

Cindy joined what was then Lutheran Hospital in 1978, working as a nurse in Medical/Oncology. She was known for her skills as well as her personality. Many people who worked with her say they will always remember her laughter in the hallways and the special way she made patients feel at ease. Cindy once made a "campfire" for a patient who loved camping with their family and was often requested by name to decorate patient rooms for birthdays and anniversaries. She was devoted to her patients and their families, making sure they had what they needed to be comfortable and to heal.

Her sister, Cheryl, remarked, "Cindy was passionate about making sure people were respected, but she also had fun. Nursing isn't all about sickness. Her biggest gift was to help others." It was that spirit for helping others that followed her through her life. She enjoyed caring for others as a nurse, teaching the medical residents as they rotated through her department and working as a care coordinator for patients. She was also active in service to the Foundation, whether it was gifts to various initiatives or serving at Heritage nights, the Foundation's former annual celebration for donors.

Cheryl says that Cindy's choice to include the Foundation in her estate is part of that same generous quality, saying, "when you look at it, it's like helping others. It was important to Cindy to give something that would live for a lifetime and change someone's life for the better."

When Cindy passed in Oct. 2025, Cheryl sat down with the Foundation to decide exactly how those gifts would help others. Because of how many different areas Cindy touched at Emplify Health by Gundersen, Cheryl wanted to make sure her estate gift embodied her spirit. To honor Cindy's 40- year nursing career, gifts were made to the Nursing Education Fund, as well as to establish a new nursing scholarship in Cindy's memory. Cheryl says this was only fitting, adding that Cindy looked up to the other nurses named in the Legacy of Nursing Scholarship Program offered by the Foundation.

Another portion of Cindy's estate will honor her time in Medical/Oncology by supporting the Gundersen Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Fund. Cheryl says this support of Medical Education perfectly embodies who Cindy was, saying, "She was a good mentor, preceptor and teacher. She also valued her own mentors."

For the final portion of Cindy's estate, Cheryl wanted to ensure the people who took care of Cindy were also taken care of. She says, "I didn't realize how much we would use hospice at the end, but it was really important that we had that connection with the Hospice staff, that everyone had that extra support." It was important to both Cindy and Cheryl that these gifts helped the community now and into the future, and Cheryl knew that gifts to the Hospice Fund would do just that.

When reflecting on these gifts, Cheryl remarked, "I think that Cindy would be overjoyed that what she has helped with will continue for a long time." By touching so many areas of healthcare at Emplify Health by Gundersen, Cindy's estate gift will ensure her legacy of care for others will last for generations to come.