Knoxville, Iowa – Knoxville Hospital & Clinics (KHC) and Pella Regional Health Center (PRHC) proudly recognize and extend the deepest gratitude to the Van Roekel family for their generous contribution of $100,000 to the Bridging the Gap Campaign.
Gifts to the Bridging the Gap Campaign will help fund the South Central Iowa Radiation Center and support the partnership between PRHC and KHC to bring radiation therapy closer to home for patients across the region. This gift represents more than financial support – it reflects belief in our mission, confidence in our collaboration, and compassion for the patients and families we serve.
“Pella Regional Health Center has been a constant in our lives, literally from day one. When Angela and I look down those hallways, we don’t just see a medical facility—we see the place where our own stories began. We were both born right here, and years later, we experienced that same life-changing joy when our own children were born in those very same rooms.
There is a unique comfort in knowing that when you walk through those doors, you aren’t just a patient file. The doctors and staff working down that hall are our friends, our neighbors, and the people we see at the grocery store or at school events. They know us, and we trust them because they are part of our community.
This hospital has been the backbone of support for our entire family tree. From our grandparents and parents to our children and our closest friends, Pella Regional has seen us through our most vulnerable moments and our greatest celebrations. Generations of Vander Leests and Van Roekels have grown up and grown old within these walls. It truly is our “home” hospital.
Pella, and Pella Regional specifically, didn’t just happen. It was built, brick by brick, through the vision and generosity of the generations who came before us. They invested in our future, and now it is our turn to step into that generational legacy. It is time for our generation to step up, take the baton, and become the builders and supporters our community needs today.
We feel a deep sense of responsibility to ensure this hospital remains a pillar of strength for the families coming after us. When we think about everything this place has given our family, the real question isn’t why we should support this project—it’s how could we not?” Mark and Angela Van Roekel.
The state-of-the-art radiation oncology center is expected to be completed in early 2027 and will significantly improve access to cancer care for residents of Marion County and surrounding communities, reducing the need for travel to distant treatment centers.
The 7,800-square-foot facility will house advanced diagnostic and treatment technology, including:
- A linear accelerator to deliver highly precise radiation treatments.
- A PET/CT scanner which plays a critical role in diagnosing cancer and determining the most effective course of treatment.
“We are incredibly grateful to Mark and Angela for their generosity through this meaningful gift. As valued community leaders – and with Mark’s dedicated service on our Bridging the Gap Campaign committee – they understand the importance of health and well-being in our communities. Because of donors like Mark and Angela, we are one step closer to turning our vision into reality and ensuring high-quality cancer care is fully available right here in Marion County,” said Katrina Nelson, Director of Public Relations and Foundation, Knoxville Hospital & Clinics.
The South Central Iowa Radiation Center is projected to cost $14.3 million, with the majority of funding to be raised through the Bridging the Gap Campaign, led by the hospital foundations of PRHC and KHC.
Photo caption: The Van Roekel family recently contributed $100,000 to the Bridging the Gap Campaign to help fund the South Central Iowa Radiation Center. Mark and Angela Van Roekel are pictured alongside representatives from Pella Regional Health Center and Knoxville Hospital & Clinics: Kevin Kincaid, CEO KHC, Katrina Nelson, Foundation Director KHC, Jan Myers, Chief Nursing Officer, KHC, Jenny Hesseltine, Foundation Director PRHC and Jody Van Veen, Chief Nursing Officer PRHC.
Knoxville Hospital & Clinics is a non-profit community hospital serving Marion County and the surrounding area. Named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital, KHC’s highly skilled medical staff and specialists provide personal, compassionate, and innovative quality health care to patients. For more information regarding this release and other happenings at Knoxville Hospital & Clinics, call the Public Relations Department at (641) 842-1418.
Pella Regional Health Center is a not-for-profit provider of healthcare that is accredited by The Joint Commission. It is recognized by Wellmark Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® as a Blue Distinction® Center+ for Maternity Care designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program, it is also recognized by Wellmark Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® for Knee and Hip designations. The health center was also awarded the Clean Facility Certificate from the Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE) for its commitment to infection prevention strategies and preparedness for biological events. Pella Regional Health Center’s mission is to provide healthcare and healing services with Christian compassion. Information on Pella Regional Health Center and its clinics is available by calling Public Relations at 641-621-2362 or visiting the website, PellaHealth.org.
