01/16/2026
Nominations are now open for the Gaber Founder’s Award for Excellence. The award was established in 2023 thanks to the generous donation by Drs. Ron and Elsie Gaber of Kirksville to the Hannibal Regional Foundation to support hospice services in northeast Missouri. The endowment created assists in recognizing hospice care workers and volunteers who go above and beyond in their service to hospice care and the patients of Hospice of Northeast Missouri. Nominations for this prestigious award are accepted for both hospice team members as well as volunteers. Nominations are open until March 9, 2026 and the nomination form can be found at hospiceofnortheastmissouri.org. The Gaber Founder’s Award for Excellence recipient will be announced in April.
Without the visionary leadership and dedication of Ron Gaber and others, Hospice of Northeast Missouri would not exist today. Ron saw a need to address end-of-life care for those living in Adair County, and with the help of other dedicated volunteers they created Hospice 2000 in 1993. Ron served as the founding president of Hospice 2000 from 1993-97, as well as the volunteer and bereavement coordinator in the early years. As Hospice 2000 developed, they recognized the need for this service was much greater than just Adair County and grew the organization to its current status as Hospice of Northeast Missouri.
Hospice of Northeast Missouri became a part of the Hannibal Regional Healthcare System family in 2022, and is supported in part by donations through the Hannibal Regional Foundation. Money raised through the Foundation for hospice services in northeast Missouri are used for financial assistance and gift cards for patients and families when on hospice services.
Hospice of Northeast Missouri is a non-profit hospice that focuses on quality of life for people and their caregivers who are experiencing an advanced, life-limiting illness. Hospice of Northeast Missouri, a partner agency of the United Way of Northeast Missouri, serves Adair, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Macon, Putnam, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby and Sullivan counties. For more information about Hospice of Northeast Missouri or to access the nomination form, visit hospiceofnortheastmissouri.org or call 660-627-9711.
