Scharenberg marks 30 years as chiropractor years ago
After 30 years of adjusting spines, rejuvenating sore muscles, and encouraging property nutrition, Dr. Dennis Scharenberg still has a passion for his work.
This year, Scharenberg is celebrating his 30th year in the chiropractic business. He's been in Hillsboro for 28 of those years.
And being a chiropractor is more than just a job for Scharenberg — it's what he loves to do.
"What's fun is to watch people get well," he said.
Scharenberg grew up on a dairy farm near Cedar Point and graduated from Florence High School. Unlike most of his fellow classmates, he knew exactly what career he wanted to pursue: chiropractic.
He even knew that back in elementary school — after the science saved him from a lifetime of pain, he said.
When he was 6, Scharenberg was riding a horse on his family's farm and ran straight under a tree. His head caught the tree, causing a severe neck injury that brought headaches, vision problems, and uncontrollable tics.
"I was driving myself crazy," he said.
Visits to regular doctors didn't help him, so Scharenberg's parents took him to V.A. Myers, a chiropractor in Newton. Through that doctor, his injury — a pinched nerve — got better and better, he said.
"I owe him a lot," he said.
And he knew what he would be someday.
After graduating from high school in 1966, Scharenberg took several months off to work, then headed for Ft. Scott Junior College, where he met his future wife, Phyllis.
Next it was off to Logan College of Chiropractic, where he received his doctor of chiropractic degree while earning his bachelor's degree as well. He graduated from Logan in 1973.
Finally a graduate, Scharenberg first considered moving to Phoenix, Ariz., but the barren desert didn't suit him. So he returned to Kansas and set up a practice in Salina.
After two years in Salina, his building was set to be remodeled, so it was time to move — and Scharenberg decided to move to Hillsboro, a town that was a little closer to his parents.
"It was just as easy to move 50 miles as across the street," he said.
It was the right decision for Scharenberg and his family.
"I just really love it here," he said.
Scharenberg first set up shop in the building that now houses the Tabor College visitor's center. For the first series of remodeling jobs, Scharenberg used one end for his offices, one end for rental apartments, and the middle to house his family.
As his practice and his family grew, Scharenberg remodeled the offices, moved his family into a house, and had dentist Dr. R.J. Tippin in the other end.
Ten years ago, the chiropractic offices were needing even more space, so the Scharenbergs bought their current building at 122 S. Main, which used to be a clothing store. He completely remodeled the interior of the space, which has 6,000 square feet on the ground floor.
Scharenberg keeps plenty busy in his offices here — and at his Herington office, which he's had for 13 years. He spends Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in Hillsboro and Tuesdays and Thursdays in Herington. That's with a typical 12-hour workday.
"I like to be busy," he said.
In fact, until a couple years ago, Scharenberg worked six days a week. Now he limits himself to five so he can pursue some of his other interests — flying airplanes and riding motorcycles.
"My hobbies got in the way," he said.
Scharenberg also wanted to spend more time with family. He and his wife have four children — Nick, Tim, Jamie, and Lisa — and four grandchildren.
But Scharenberg always makes his patients a priority, whether he's adjusting someone's spine, administering acupuncture, or doing muscle therapy.
"Your patients become friends," he said.
His focus in chiropractic is not just in "quick fixes" — it's about wellness, about getting people better and keeping them better.
And there's no end in sight for Scharenberg; the word "retire" is not in his vocabulary.
"One of the worst things I think a person can do is retire," he said. "(I'll go) until I can't go no more."
