Aaron Van Beek, 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 from Dordt College. Aaron also serves as the volunteer location coordinator for the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery 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. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Siouxland Philanthropy. 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, Northeast Nebraska, and Southwest Minnesota - Veterans were not having the time or the funds to see their memorials in Washington, D.C. In 2017, as a junior in college, 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, "Most Influential Person" from the N'West Iowa Review in 2022, the Horizon Alumni Award from Dordt University (formerly Dordt College) in 2022, and one of the "10 Under 40" from Siouxland Magazine in 2023.

  • Kim Thome 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.

  • 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 Sioux Center High School 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 grandpa 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 Midwest Honor Flight events. Kristi was a Guardian on Mission 3 and a bus captain on Mission 6. Kristi joined the Board of Directors in 2021.

  • 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 for Mercy Home Care since 1999. 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 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. 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 currently works as a firefighter in Sioux Falls. He has been an EMT for 20+ 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 training serves his Veteran Brothers and Sisters. Russell joined the Board of Directors in 2019.