08/09/2025
After an extraordinary 40-year career in nursing, Lynn Vermeulen, BSN, RN, CEN, is stepping into a well-earned retirement, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, mentorship, and heartfelt care at SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital. Today is her final day with more than 33 years of service with the hospital.
Lynn’s journey began long before she joined Ripon, but it was in 1991 - when she returned to Wisconsin and accepted a position in the ICU - that her impact truly began to take root. Over the next 34 years, Lynn became a cornerstone of the hospital community, evolving into a board-certified emergency nurse, an ACLS and CPR instructor, and a trusted preceptor to countless students and nurses.
For the past 28 years, Lynn served in the Emergency Room, where she cared for entire families across generations. Her compassion and calm presence in moments of crisis made her a beloved figure among patients and colleagues alike. Lynn’s describes her ER team as a second family - one that celebrated birthdays, enjoyed baseball games, hosted cookouts, and shared laughter through the years.
Now embracing retirement, Lynn is transitioning into a vibrant new chapter filled with pickleball, hiking, gardening, E-biking, and scenic rides in Gary’s ’66 Chevelle. She’s exploring painting, reading, cooking classes, reconnecting with friends, and planning travels to sunny destinations.
