Nebraskan's Friend Recipients

DR. VAN E. VAHLE - 2010 NEBRASKA'S FRIEND AWARD RECIPIENT

For his dedicated service as a volunteer educator and mentor to hundreds of Nebraska’s medical students since 1993, the Seward Fourth of July Celebration has announced Dr. Van E. Vahle of Seward the 2010 recipient of the annual Nebraskan’s Friend Award. He was recently named the “Physician of the Year” by the Nebraska Academy of Family Practice.  Dr. Vahle was born and raised in Alma, NE, attending the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Medical School in Omaha.  He was a member of the UNL Marching Band while in college.  He was in the OB/GYN Resident Program prior to Family Pracitice.  He moved to Seward, NE in July, 1971 to begin his practice as a family physician.

For almost two decades, since 1993, Dr. Vahle has served as a medical student instructor and mentor through his work at Memorial Health Care Systems.  He volunteers through the University of Nebraska Medical Center as a volunteer faculty for medical students and received the Volunteer Clinical Faculty Award in 2004.  He is currently employed at Seward Memorial Health Care Systems and has been a member of the medical staff  since 1971, serving the greater Seward community’s medical needs for almost 40 years!  He is a past medical director for numerous area fire departments and is often asked to present and share his medical knowledge for programs, lectures, educational programs and seminars.

Dr. Vahle’s resume lists 15 local and state organizational memberships and ten Medical Association memberships.  He co-chaired the funding campaigns for the new Memorial Library and new Seward Memorial Health Care Systems Clinic.  He is an active member of the City of Seward Band and Concordia University Community Band.  He is a past member of the Seward Kiwanis and past Seward Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and still involved in many Chamber activities.  He and his wife, Becky,  were leaders in the Seward Chamber Christmas Light program in Centennial Park for many years-Cradick’s Country Christmas. 

Dr. Vahle is a father of four and was very involved in all of his children’s youth activities and their activities while in high school.  Dr. Vahle served as the team physician for many years at various Seward High sporting events and he served as a youth coach for many levels of various sports involving his children in the Seward Recreation program. 

His honors are numerous, beginning with the Eagle Scout award with the Gold Palm and he was also a member of the Order of the Arrow.  He was the 2002 recipient of the Concordia University Distinguished Service Award and was named the “King of Hearts” by the American Heart Association. 

Dr. Vahle’s resume lists almost 40 philanthropy areas of support and over twenty areas of community service through his decades of service to others in the Greater Seward area.  He is an active member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Seward and is a former God Parent youth group leader.

Van Vahle married Becky (Cattle) in December of 1967 and they have four children Dr. Heather Dews in Lincoln, Van Christopher Vahle in New York City, Nicole A Schneider in Mobile, Alabama and Kourtney A Vahle in Chicago, Illinois.  He has five grandchildren, Kylie Dews, Connor Dews, Calvin Schneider, Elsie Schneider, Clarke Ralston.  He and his wife Becky enjoy cooking, baking, yard and garden work, along with traveling to Colorado, traveling to visit their children and other travel experiences, especially with their nephews.  They enjoy hosting family and friends in their home and look forward to family gatherings.  Dr. Vahle and his wife Becky are both employed full time and enjoy working with wonderful fellow employees, customers and patients in the greater Seward area. 

For his work volunteering to educate and mentor Nebraska Medical students for almost two decades and serving as a leader in health care in the Seward, Southeast Nebraska and the entire State for almost 40 years, the Seward Fourth of July Celebration Committee and the City of Seward name Van E. Vahle the 2010 recipient of the “Nebraskan’s Friend Award.  He and his family will serve as the Grand Marshall of the Parade, be honored throughout the day and be recognized at the Bandshell following the parade.  Dr. Vahle is the 40th recipient of this statewide award, annually presented to someone who has given volunteer service to the people of Nebraska.  The award is presented by the Seward Fourth of July Celebration Committee.  The 2010 theme for Seward’s Fourth of July Celebration is “It’s All About the Family!”