Board of Directors

Meet Our Chief Executive Officer

AARON VAN BEEK, President & CEO

Aaron Van Beek serves as the Board President and CEO for Midwest Honor Flight. While volunteering as the President & Director of Midwest Honor Flight, he taught third grade at Kinsey Elementary in Sioux Center, Iowa for 4 years after graduating college. Aaron also serves as the volunteer Director for South Dakota Veterans Cemetery Wreaths Across America and Sioux Center Wreaths Across America, and is a member of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 199 of Sioux Center and of the VFW Auxiliary Unit 628 of Sioux Falls. Although not having served in the military himself, his passion for Veterans comes from three of his great-grandfathers (WWII), one grandfather (Vietnam), and one sister (current), all who served honorably in the US Army and 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 in the region to fly Korean and Vietnam Veterans, in addition to WWII Veterans, 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!”

As the founder of Midwest Honor Flight, Aaron has been awarded the JoEllen DeKauk Service Award in 2018, Sioux Center Community Service Award in 2018, Sioux Center Community School District Above and Beyond Award in 2018, Iowan of the Day in 2019, one of the "20 Under 40 Young Leaders" from Northwest Iowa in 2020, and "Most Influential Person" from the N'West Iowa Review in 2022.

Meet Our Volunteer Board

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.

CORY VAN SLOTEN, Vice President

Chaplain (Major) Cory Van Sloten, volunteer Vice President of Midwest Honor Flight, is a third-generation Veteran and currently serves as Brigade Chaplain for the Ryder Brigade, 2d Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army National Guard. He has served in the Iowa Army National Guard for 29 years; previously as an Infantryman, a Motor Transport Operator, and a Chaplain Candidate. Cory 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 and to Kosovo in 2020-2021 as the KFOR (Kosovo Force) Regional Command East Chaplain in support of NATO Operation Joint Enterprise and U.S. Operation Joint Guardian.

A native of Ireton, Iowa, Cory resides in Maurice, Iowa with his wife Arla and their Yellow Labrador Retriever, Hank. They have four adult children, three single sons and a married daughter; and one grandchild, a boy. Cory is ordained as a Minister of the Word in the Christian Reformed Church in North America and endorsed as a chaplain by the CRCNA’s Chaplaincy and Care Ministry. In his civilian vocation, he serves as Support Coordinator for Army Survivor Outreach Services in Western Iowa. He also serves voluntarily as Chaplain of the Veterans of Foreign Wars 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.” Cory joined the Board of Directors in 2017.

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 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.

ELAINE LEUSINK, Treasurer

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 eight 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. 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.

KRISTI BRANTSEN, Board of Directors

Kristi Brantsen works for CorTrust Mortgage in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as a Vice President and Underwriter for the mortgage department; she also serves on the mortgage Board of Directors. Kristi is a native of Sioux Center, Iowa, and graduated from SCHS in 1991. Her paternal grandfather served in the US Navy in WWII, so Kristi’s interest in anything military was piqued at a very young age. She had lots of questions about the pencil sketch picture of the USS Hornet that hung on her grandma’s wall. She came to learn that her Grampa had served on that ship. From those early days of learning about her grandfather, to seeing a bit of him in the eyes of the Veterans she is blessed to serve, Kristi’s passion has been to give back to those who have given so much in service to their country. In her spare time, you can find Kristi working in her yard and volunteering for various MWHF events. Kristi was a guardian on Mission 3 and a bus captain on Mission 6. Kristi joined the Board of Directors in 2021 and serves as our Guardian Coordinator.

GREGORY MINER, Board of Directors

Greg Miner left the United States Air Force in 1992 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 an advocate for Veterans of the United States. Greg joined the Board of Directors in 2019.

KATHY MITZEL, Board of Directors

Kathy Mitzel is a native of Ipswich, SD and currently lives in Aberdeen, SD. She graduated from Dakota State University in Madison, SD and has been a Registered Respiratory Therapist since 1994. She currently works in Aberdeen as a Billing Clerk for Siegel Barnett & Schutz, LLP law office and as a Respiratory Therapist at Avera McKennan in Sioux Falls, SD. She is engaged to Pat Gross and has 1 Daughter Erica Mitzel, who is currently in the nursing program at Augustana University in Sioux Falls. Kathy volunteered as part of the Medical Team with Midwest Honor Flight in 2018 and 2019 and when asked why, she replied “I have had family fight in every war from the Civil War to the Vietnam War. My Great Uncle John Steen was part of the 29th Infantry Division who landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy on D-Day, their Motto was “29, Let’s Go”. I have family who have served in the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines and served during the Persian Gulf War through the Iraqi Wars. I’ve taken care of Veterans for 27 years as an RT and have the utmost respect and honor for them and what my family and friends did for our country. I didn’t serve myself and this was a way I could give back to those who did.” Kathy joined the Board of Directors in 2021.

KIM THOME, Board of Directors

Kim Thome served on the medical team in 2021 and joined the Board of Directors in 2022.

CHRIS VAN BEEK, Board of Directors

Chris Van Beek, volunteer Medical Coordinator of Midwest Honor Flight, has been a nurse since graduating from Briar Cliff College in 1993. She has been an RN case manager for Mercy Home Care since 1999. Chris is a member and serves as the historian for 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. Two of her grandfathers served during WWII, one Army and one Army Air Corps, and her daughter is serving with the Iowa Army National Guard as a combat medic. 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. Chris has been awarded the 100 Iowa Great Nurse in 2018, Volunteer Siouxland Community Volunteer of the Year in 2018, Nurses The Heart of Health Care Excellence In Nursing 2020 Award.

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 joined 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!