Isaac Daniels is Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s first Stephen Kaschke Memorial Scholarship recipient

Isaac Daniels had no idea why he was being summoned to Rock Valley Physical Therapy's 43rd Ave. (Moline, Il.) clinic. 

A third-year Doctor of Physical Therapy student at Dubuque-Iowa-based Clarke University, Daniels, a longtime technician at Rock Valley-43rd, was excited to see the many friends he made through the years. 

What a surprise Daniels received... 

Not only did his day entail catching up with friends, but Daniels learned he was the recipient of the first Stephen Kaschke Memorial Scholarship, a $2,500 award to a Rock Valley Physical Therapy employee pursuing a degree in physical therapy. 

Stephen Kaschke was a physical therapist at Rock Valley in the 1990s and passed away on October 6, 2000, after a four-year battle with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. 

Throughout his life, Steve was known for his strength, compassion, and unwavering dedication to helping others. His legacy continues to inspire those who knew him, and this scholarship serves as a meaningful tribute to the values he embodied. 

In unison, Rock Valley Physical Therapy and the family of Steve Kaschke worked to create the Kaschke award. Daniels received the honor from Kaschke's widow, Kathy, at a ceremony at Rock Valley’s 43rd Ave. clinic. 

“I am beyond grateful to receive this opportunity,’’ Daniels said of the honor, noting that the day took on even more meaning when he learned Steve Kaschke’s son, Dan, is a physical therapist with the United States Army. Before serving his country, Dan Kaschke was a physical therapist with Rock Valley. 

“Thank you from the depths of my heart,’’ Daniels continued. “I made a promise to myself, my friends, my family, and God that I will do my best to honor Steve’s legacy through the way I live my day-to-day life and the way I care for others. I shared my story, and I was chosen because they felt I embodied the spirit and image of who Steve was. What an absolute honor that is. It is truly a blessing to receive this recognition. I applied for the Steve Kaschke scholarship because – after hearing his story – I genuinely thought that is the type of physical therapist, man, father, friend, and son I hope to become one day.’’ 

By: Johnny Marx, Rock Valley Storyteller