Man builds backyard oasis after severe arthritis diagnosis

APPLETON, Wis. (Aging Untold) — After a difficult diagnosis, a man transformed his yard into an oasis with water, sand and wildlife that might make visitors feel like they are in Florida rather than Wisconsin.

Dennis Nagan shares his property with birds, butterflies, turtles, frogs and fish. He calls the space Memory Lake in honor of his late parents.

“It probably saved my life, ‘cause when I’m depressed or just the body ain’t working, you just come out here and it’s just like most people, you go in the woods and you just see everything that God created and you’re just calm. It just brings peace.”

Building through illness

Nagan worked in health care management and started a business during his career. He also coached basketball for decades.

In 2010, he achieved his dream of coaching the Lawrence University women’s team. But he felt something wasn’t right with his body.

Doctors diagnosed Nagan with severe systemic rheumatoid arthritis, which destroys tendons and joints in the body and attacks the heart, lungs, eyes and other organs.

“I had to give up coaching. I had to give up working at a job. I had to give up most of my volunteering,” Nagan said. “So, you lose your life, you lose your identity, and then you’ve got to start rebuilding, you know? And it’s very difficult.”

In 2013, Nagan said, he had a vision.

“One day, I woke up in the middle of the night and whether it was God or whatever, said, ‘Build a pond,’” Nagan said. “And I drew that note down. The next day I got up, I got pictures, I came out here with a big rope. I laid out a rope. Everybody thought I was crazy. And I said, ‘I want to build a pond.’”

Sharing the space

Over the years, Nagan’s family and friends, especially his grandchildren, have enjoyed Memory Lake, which is stocked with perch.

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