Board of Directors

Meet Our Team

These volunteers give 100% and are dedicated to our Veterans to ensure they see their memorials free of charge, safely.
Some stay back to watch the home front while some dedicate their time and efforts to the Veterans in Washington, D.C.

AARON VAN BEEK, President & Director

Aaron Van Beek, President & Director of Midwest Honor Flight, teaches third grade at Kinsey Elementary in Sioux Center, Iowa. Aaron is a member of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 199 of Sioux Center and an Assistant Scoutmaster for the Sioux Center Boy Scouts. He also serves as the volunteer Director for Sioux Center Wreaths Across America and is a licensed Washington, D.C area Tour Guide. Although not having served in the military himself, his passion for Veterans comes from three of his great-grandfathers (WWII) and one grandfather (Vietnam) who served honorably in the US Army or the US Army Air Corp.

Aaron saw a need in Northwest Iowa, South Dakota, and Southwest Minnesota - Veterans were not having the time or the funds to see their memorials in Washington, D.C. In 2017, he started the Midwest Honor Flight through the Honor Flight Network. This was the first Honor Flight* to allow South Dakota Korean and Vietnam Veterans as well as Northwest Iowa and Southwest Minnesota WWII, Korean, and Vietnam Veterans to fly to DC under the care and supervision of Honor Flight Guardians. "They answered the call to serve our country and those around the globe. It's now our duty as a grateful nation to get them out to Washington, D.C. to see the memorials dedicated to their service and fellow comrades. It truly is the least we can do as the American People for our brave American heroes to visit their memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice in our nation’s capital - Washington, D.C!”

CORY VAN SLOTEN, Vice President

Cory Van Sloten, Vice President of Midwest Honor Flight, is a third generation Veteran and currently serves as Chaplain for the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, under the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army National Guard. He has been in the Iowa Army National Guard for twenty-six years and previously served as an Infantryman, a Motor Transport Operator, and a Chaplain Candidate. He deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in 2004-2005 as a Motor Transport Operator in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism where he was awarded the Combat Action Badge and the Army Commendation Medal.

A native of Ireton, Iowa, Cory resides in Maurice, Iowa with his wife Arla, where they raised their four adult children. His primary vocational calling is serving as Pastor of Lebanon Christian Reformed Church of rural Sioux Center, Iowa. He also currently serves as Commander of the Doornink-Brunsting American Legion Post 199 of Sioux Center, Iowa and Chaplain of the VFW Post 6129 of Sioux Center, Iowa. When asked why he wanted to be involved with Midwest Honor Flight, Cory said, “Honor Flights are one of the best ways that I know of to honor our Veterans for their service to and their sacrifices for our nation."

MICHELLE POMRENKE, Secretary

Michelle Pomrenke, Board Secretary and Bus Coordinator, and her three children reside 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 attends Granite Church in Hawarden, Iowa. Her commitment to the 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 the summer of 2018.

MATTHEW VOLKER, Treasurer

ABBY BARTOSH, Board of Directors

Abby Bartosh, currently serving in South Dakota Army National Guard, 1742nd Transportation Company, Sioux Falls, SD, has been in the SD Army National Guard for fifteen years. She is a native of Dundee, MN and a graduate of South Dakota State University earning a B.S. Animal Science and a M.S. Ruminant Nutrition. Abby currently resides in Colton, SD with her son and works at POET Nutrition in Sioux Falls as part of the marketing group that sells dried distiller grains across the United States to local farmers and producers. POET is the world’s number one bio-fuels supplier and markets distillers grains both locally and across the globe and was a sponsor of Mission 1. When asked about why she is involved with Midwest Honor Flight, Abby said, “Honor Flights are a way for me to connect with Veterans that have served in some of our country’s most important wars and help give them the honor they’ve rightfully earned for their service.” Abby joined the Board of Directors in 2018.

JAMES BUSSELL, Board of Directors

Jim Bussell is a 15 year veteran of the Rapid City Fire Department where he is a Lieutenant/Paramedic currently serving as the department’s Public Information Officer. Jim is a native of Rapid City and the Black Hills. He is active in a number of community organizations and has a passion for coaching and mentoring through youth athletics. He is an avid angler and spends much of his free time on different Black Hills bodies of water. He and hid wife, Tausha, have three children; Brendon, Breiane and Carson. Jim served as a medic on Missions 2 and 3 in 2018 and on an Honor Flight out of Rapid City in 2010. “I’ve never been a part of anything as moving or powerful as an Honor Flight,” Jim said. “I look forward to continuing to help ensure that our Veterans are given a long overdue 'Thank You' for their service and sacrifice.” Jim was asked to be part of the Board of Directors in 2019.

MATT HOLSEN, Board of Directors

Matt Holsen is a Marine Corps Veteran and a morning anchor for KELOLAND TV based out of Sioux Falls, SD. With grandfathers who served in World War II and several other family members who answered the call to serve in the military, Matt spends a lot of time supporting programs that help Veterans. He heard about Midwest Honor Flight before Mission One took off and has been spreading the word about the organization ever since thanks to KELOLAND Media Group. Matt has covered three missions of Midwest Honor Flight and is excited to see many more take place for very deserving Veterans. When asked about Midwest Honor Flight, Matt said, “I think Honor Flight brings closure to the Vets and gives their mental health and wellness a big boost. Watching adults and children walk up to the Veterans during the trips to shake their hands and thank them for their service is my favorite part.” Matt was asked to join the Board of Directors in the fall of 2018.

ELAINE LEUSINK, Board of Directors

Elaine Leusink serves as the Welcome Home Coordinator for each flight and enters all the applications we receive from Veterans and Guardians. She works at Premier Communications in Sioux Center and resides with her husband Bill in Sioux Center, Iowa. They have four children and six grandchildren. In addition to her involvement with Midwest Honor Flight, she is also very active in her church and serves as the Associate Director of Sioux Center Wreaths Across America. When asked about about the 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 has been with the Board of Directors since July 2017.

GREGORY MINER, Board of Directors

Greg Miner was appointed President and CEO of Dunes Surgical Hospital. As the Chief Executive, Miner is responsible for planning, directing and managing the current operations, future growth and program development for Dunes Surgical Hospital. In 1992, Miner left the United States Air Force to become the youngest CEO ever named in the state of Iowa. Prior to returning to his home state of Iowa, Miner taught Medical Planning and Health Care Administration at the School of Health Care Sciences for the United States Air Force and was an active planner during Gulf War/Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Miner also was the author of Total Quality Management for the School of Health Care Sciences in addition to being course director for several other Health Care Administration Classes. Miner is actively involved in the community both as an ambassador for Dunes Surgical Hospital and an advocate for Veterans of the United States. Miner was a Guardian on Mission 3 and asked to serve on the Board of Directors in 2019.

KRISTINE SACHARA, Board of Directors

Kristine Keely Sachara has been a Registered Nurse since 1973 working in emergency rooms across the United States. Initially graduating from Clarion State College in Clarion, PA, she recently finished her Master’s Degree in Nursing from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ. She is active in the American Legion Auxiliary, American Legion Riders, and the 8 and 40. Kristine lives with her husband, Mark, two Rhodesian Ridgebacks and an African Grey parrot in Spearfish, S.D. In her spare time, she enjoys reading historical fiction, walking the Ridgebacks and trying to learn to ride her Harley Sportster. One of her proudest life experiences has been serving as a Guardian for a Korean War Veteran during Mission 3. Kristine has served as a volunteer for the Midwest Honor Flight since Mission 2 and was added to the Board of Directors in 2019.

CHRIS VAN BEEK, Board of Directors

RUSSELL WENTZ, Board of Directors

Russell Wentz is an Air Force Veteran and currently works as a firefighter in Sioux Falls. He has been an EMT for 20+ years and a CPR instructor too. He lives in Canton, SD with his wife Kim, and 3 children, Jesse, Kambree, and Reed, where he is active in the community. A lifetime VFW member where 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 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 training serves his Veteran Brothers and Sisters. Russell was asked to join the Board of Directors in 2019.

WANT TO VOLUNTEER WITH OUR BOARD?

Fill out the VOLUNTEER Application and be sure to mention that you'd like to join our growing volunteer team!

*South Dakota Honor Flight was in existence from 2009 - 2012 and during that time took over 1,400 WWII veterans out to Washington DC.
Korean and Vietnam Veterans now have this same opportunity through Midwest Honor Flight and serve NW Iowa, SW Minnesota, and the State of South Dakota.