Breaking: Floyd County Medical Awarded $10 Million Estate to Fund Cancer Center
The First Judicial Court of Iowa has ruled in favor of Floyd County Medical Center (FCMC) in the years’ long battle over the estate of Herman Stille.
The fate of Stille’s estate has been in question since his passing in 2020. Friday (06.06) morning, FCMC Chief Executive Officer Dawnett Willis received word of the ruling.
In a statement she said, “FCMC is absolutely over the moon with this decision. We would like to thank the First Judicial Court of Iowa for honoring what we wholeheartedly believe was the vision of Mr. Stille for a cancer center here in Floyd County. We will steward these precious funds with the utmost care and look forward to bringing these vital healthcare services to our community.”
Stille, a successful farmer and generous local farmer in Chickasaw County, left $10 million to FCMC in his will under two conditions: that FCMC remain independent and that the funds be used to establish a cancer center in Charles City. If FCMC was unable to meet those requirements, the money would go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, for Alzheimer’s disease research.
After years of Stille’s will being challenged in court, the judge assigned to the case sided with FCMC, noting that “FCMC’s independent status and ability to construct a center satisfied the two criteria in Stille’s will. The judge also concluded, “The bequest of residual assets of the estate shall be payable to FCMC to build and operate a cancer center.”
Willis says, “A cancer center here in our community will be life-changing for so many people. To offer oncology services close to home is an incredible opportunity that we would not have without Mr. Stille. His generosity is truly what will build this facility and we cannot wait to bring it to life.’
FCMC has been working with local contractors on the design for a cancer center for several years and will share those plans once they’re finalized.
