Aaron Van Beek, CEO

Aaron Van Beek serves as the Board President and Chief Executive Officer of Midwest Honor Flight. After graduating from Dordt College, he spent four years teaching third grade at Kinsey Elementary in Sioux Center, Iowa, while simultaneously volunteering as President & Director of the organization. Aaron also serves as the volunteer location coordinator for the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery Wreaths Across America program and is a member of both the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 199 in Sioux Center and the VFW Auxiliary Unit 628 in Sioux Falls. Although he has not served in the military himself, his deep passion for honoring Veterans is rooted in strong family ties—three great-grandfathers (WWII), one grandfather (Vietnam), and a sister and brother-in-law (current service), all of whom served honorably in the U.S. Army or U.S. Army Air Corps.

Recognizing that many Veterans in Northwest Iowa, South Dakota, Northeast Nebraska, and Southwest Minnesota lacked the means or opportunity to visit their memorials in Washington, D.C., Aaron took action. In 2017, while still a junior in college, he founded Midwest Honor Flight through the Honor Flight Network. The organization became the region’s first to fly Korean War and Vietnam War Veterans—alongside WWII Veterans—to the nation’s capital under the care and supervision of trained Honor Flight Guardians. “They answered the call to serve our country and those around the globe. It is now our duty as a grateful nation to ensure they have the opportunity to see the memorials dedicated to their service and their fellow comrades. It is the very least we can do for our brave American heroes.”

As the founder of Midwest Honor Flight, Aaron has been recognized with numerous awards, including the JoEllen DeKauk Service Award (2018), Sioux Center Community Service Award (2018), Sioux Center Community School District Above and Beyond Award (2018), Iowan of the Day (2019), and the “20 Under 40 Young Leaders” distinction for Northwest Iowa (2020). He was named “Most Influential Person” by the N’West Iowa Review in 2022, received the Horizon Alumni Award from Dordt University in 2022, and was honored as one of Siouxland Magazine’s “10 Under 40” in 2023.

  • Kim Thome, Vice Present, is a physician assistant currently serving full time with the SD Army National Guard and is a Desert Storm Veteran. She joined the Iowa Army National Guard as a medic in September of 1984. She lives in Sturgis, SD with her husband Brian. They have three daughters and seven grandchildren. Kim enjoys helping Brian with his honeybees and they are both active with Hives to Heroes, helping Veterans who want to become beekeepers. Kim’s husband and sister both retired from the National Guard, and her father served in the Army for 4 years. She also had 2 uncles who served in Korea, one of which was lost at sea and whose name is on the Korea wall memorial. When asked why Honor Flight, Kim shared, “They are part of the reason I volunteer, because I want to honor them and their service. I feel so honored and humbled to be able to be a part of such an amazing organization.” Kim served on the medical team in 2021 and joined the Board of Directors in 2022.

  • Elaine Leusink serves as the Welcome Home Coordinator for each flight. She works at Premier Communications in Sioux Center and resides with her husband Bill in Sioux Center, Iowa. They have four children and nine grandchildren. In addition to her involvement with Midwest Honor Flight, she is also very active in her church and serves as the volunteer Location Coordinator for Sioux Center Wreaths Across America. She also is a member of the Iowa Chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers and the Doornink-Brunsting American Legion Auxiliary Unit 199. When asked about Honor Flight, Elaine had this to say, "I became involved with Midwest Honor Flight because of our oldest son. He was a United States Marine and served in Iraq which is where we lost him in combat. For me working with our Veterans helps me feel close to our son, and also anything that I can do to make sure these Veterans get all of the honor and healing that they need and deserve in their lives is worth everything to me." Elaine joined the Board of Directors in 2017.

  • Michelle Pomrenke, Board Secretary and Volunteer Coordinator, resides in Sioux Center. She has been employed by Sioux Center Chiropractic since 2012. Michelle is an avid music lover and in her free time she enjoys playing guitar and dabbling in home improvement projects. She is a member of the Doornink-Brunsting American Legion Auxiliary Unit 199. Her commitment to Midwest Honor Flight can be credited to both of her grandfathers having served in World War II - one in the US Army and one in the US Army Air Corps. ​Michelle received the call to help with the first Mission and has been involved with Midwest Honor Flight ever since. When asked what each of these Missions mean to her, Michelle says, "It is an honor to humbly serve those who served first." Michelle joined the Board of Directors in 2018.

  • Chris Van Beek, volunteer Medical Coordinator for Midwest Honor Flight, has been a nurse since graduating from Briar Cliff College in 1993. She has been an RN case manager since 1999, currently with UnityPoint at Home. Chris is a member of the Doornink-Brunsting American Legion Auxiliary Unit 199. She has also volunteered with Sioux Center Wreaths Across America program since it became a national location in 2015 and with the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery Wreaths Across America since 2021. Two of her grandfathers served during WWII, one Army and one Army Air Corps, and her daughter and son-in-law are currently serving with the Iowa Army National Guard. When asked why Honor Flight, Chris says, "My two grandfathers both served honorably during WWII and unfortunately, they passed before their memorial was dedicated. This is one of the reasons I volunteer, to honor them. Honor Flight is an opportunity for our deserving Veterans to have respect, honor, and closure. I eagerly volunteer in this capacity and I have a huge heart for our American Veterans."

    As a founding member, Chris has been with Midwest Honor Flight since our incorporating in March of 2017. For her dedication to Honor Flight, Chris has been awarded the 100 Iowa Great Nurse in 2018, Volunteer Siouxland Community Volunteer of the Year in 2018, and Nurses The Heart of Health Care Excellence In Nursing Award in 2020.

  • Russell Wentz is an Air Force Veteran and retired from Sioux Falls Fire Rescue after a 20 year career. He has been an EMT for 30 years as well as a CPR instructor. He lives in Canton, SD with his wife Kim, and 3 children, Jesse, Kambree, and Reed, where he is active in the community. As a lifetime VFW member, he continues his military support as an active member of their honor guard. Russ volunteers his time in the community by coaching softball in the summer months and is the Troop Trainer and Troop Committee Chair for the Canton Troop 60 Scouts. After serving as a Guardian for Midwest Honor Flight, Russ joined the Board of Directors to become more involved in supporting all Veterans. “I just want to make sure that every Veteran has the opportunity to safely get to see their memorials in Washington DC.” This is the reason he goes on flights as a medical team member, where his prior military and Firefighter training serves his Veteran Brothers and Sisters. Russell joined the Board of Directors in 2019.