A large monetary gift is being given to a north central Iowa hospital. Hamilton Hospital in Webster City is receiving a ten-million dollar pledge from Bob and Mary Van Diest of Webster City for the construction and equipping of a new hospital to replace the current one built back in the early 1930s.
The current hospital is a 25-bed facility. It underwent expansion and renovation projects in 1954, 1977 and once again in 1989. The pledge made by the Van Diests is with the understanding that ground breaking will take place within the next 12 months and a new hospital will be constructed rather than remodeling the present one.
Hamilton Hospital board members welcomed the generous donation at a special meeting last night. Bob Van Diest is the President of Van Diest Supply Company of Webster City, a firm that distributes and manufactures agricultural chemicals across the Midwest.