Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
VanGerpen Returns To Legislature
 |
| District 19 Rep.-elect Bill VanGerpen (R-Tyndall) displays the military honors he received during his Air Force career. VanGerpen was re-elected to the Legislature in 2004 but resigned when he was called into active duty with the Iowa National Guard. After finishing the two-year assignment, he retired from the military and was elected to the Legislature, which opens its session today (Tuesday). (RANDY DOCKENDORF/P&D) |
BY RANDY DOCKENDORF
randy.dockendorf@yankton.net
TYNDALL — As a pastor, the Rev. Bill VanGerpen knows that God works in mysterious ways.
VanGerpen has experienced a number of unexpected callings in recent years. Those callings forced him to leave the Legislature four years ago, then led him back to Pierre starting today (Tuesday) for the first day of the session.
“I had been serving in the House and was re-elected in 2004 to serve another two years, but then came the military call,” VanGerpen said. “I was in the Air Force Reserve, and I was mobilized with the Iowa National Guard. I was going to serve full-time duty in Iowa for two years, so I resigned from the Legislature.”
Nearly the entire full term remained for the District 19 seat. Another Republican, Gary Jerke of Tripp, was appointed to represent the district, comprised of Bon Homme, Douglas, Hutchinson and northwest Turner counties.
With his political career on hold, VanGerpen also left his pastorate at Tyndall Baptist Church as well as his farming operation. He left behind many things, but he also found a tremendous need awaiting him.
The Iowa National Guard had created a pilot project in 2005 called “Enduring Families.” The program was designed to help veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan deal with the stress of re-entering civilian life. According to the Iowa National Guard, attendance is mandatory for all soldiers. Family member attendance is highly encouraged and appreciated.
Iowa was the first state to offer the program. Mental-health workers, other professionals and religious leaders gave more than 250,000 volunteer service hours in debriefing about 2,000 soldiers in the program’s first months, according to the Business Record of Des Moines.
As a chaplain, VanGerpen worked for the Iowa adjutant general and was called upon for his spiritual and counseling services.
“You had airmen and soldiers who were gone 12 to 18 months. They were separated from their family,” he said. “I tried to help them deal with the PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).”
In a separate program, VanGerpen briefed soldiers before they entered combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. In addition, he served on the staff of the Reserve Component National Security Course. He also developed a marriage enrichment weekend for soldiers and spouses. And in perhaps his most difficult duty, he delivered the news of a soldier’s death to the family on about six occasions.
After returning from his two-year stint, VanGerpen retired from the military and settled into civilian life. But he soon found himself uprooted in his ministry.
“I was serving Tyndall Baptist Church when they decided to close the church rather than spend a great deal of money to renovate it,” he said. “A delegation from East Lake Andes Lutheran Church came to our church’s sale, looking for pews. They saw me and asked if I would be available (as pastor).”
VanGerpen met with the East Lake Andes Lutheran leaders, where they discussed his possible role.
“I am Baptist, so there are some doctrinal issues. But the church board and I talked about it,” he said. “They offered me the position. We have a lay pastor who preaches two Sundays, and I preach two Sundays with visitation.”
VanGerpen has served the church for a year, and he enjoys working with the rural congregation. The church, located along U.S. Highway 281, has undergone renovations and sports a healthy membership, he said.
“They have a tremendous group of people from Parkston, Wagner, Ravinia and Pickstown,” he said. “And they have so many young families with children. There are tremendous opportunities.”
With a new pastorate and a return to the farm, VanGerpen felt very satisfied with life. His wife, Karen, was teaching special education at the Springfield school in the Bon Homme school district. The couple wanted to spend more time with their children and grandchildren. Their “family” has included exchange students from Israel and Japan.
A return to politics was definitely not on the radar screen. “When I came back (from military service) in 2006, I needed a break. I had no intention of running,” Van Gerpen said.
But sometimes in politics, the right time chooses you rather than the other way around.
Jerke dropped out of the 2008 legislative race after the GOP primary in June, and the Republicans sought a replacement candidate.
VanGerpen initially resisted the urging of others to get into the race.
“There was harvest coming up. I wasn’t going to run (for office) and try to come back (into politics),” he said. “I told folks that, no, I want to be with my grandchildren. They said, ‘Don’t you care about your grandchildren?’ I said, ‘Well, yes,’ and they said, ‘Then you get your name on the ballot.’”
VanGerpen found himself on the campaign trail after a four-year hiatus. He finished first in the five-man race with 5,661 votes, listed on 35 percent of the ballots cast. Republican incumbent Jim Putnam of Armour won the other seat.
“I am very blessed that the people of District 19 chose me,” VanGerpen said. “I have a pretty conservative district, and I reflect what they think.”
VanGerpen comes from a family of politicians. His great-grandfather served as a legislator, and his uncle was a legislator in Iowa. Bill’s father, Roland, served as a South Dakota lawmaker until dying in office of a heart attack in July 1983. Bill’s mother, Louise, was appointed to finish the final year of the term.
And Bill’s uncle, Ed VanGerpen, was recently elected to serve on the Bon Homme County Commission, representing the Avon area.
Bill VanGerpen’s political connections don’t end with family ties. He attended Southwestern Seminary in Forth Worth, Texas, with former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. He also attended seminary with Rick Warren, pastor of the Saddleback Church who wrote “The Purpose Driven Life,” hosted a presidential forum last fall and will offer a prayer at Pres.-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration next week.
As he begins his new term in Pierre, Bill VanGerpen said his life experiences will shape his time in the Legislature.
After attending college in Springfield, he served in the Air Force for seven years and worked with security and personnel matters. He was stationed in Germany and traveled extensively in Europe.
During a chilling experience, VanGerpen toured the Dachau concentration camp and saw the gas chambers. He also saw the cemetery where prisoners dug their own graves.
“It was a great experience being over there (in Europe), but I really appreciate being an American,” he said.
VanGerpen also brings experiences from his recent work with the Iowa National Guard. He saw returning soldiers and airmen who couldn’t talk about their experiences and underwent difficulties readjusting to their families and civilian life.
“It’s interesting what is on the minds of soldiers,” he said, adding that many soldiers were bothered by the July 4 fireworks reminding them of combat.
VanGerpen wants to work on legislative issues for veterans and their families. His pastoral and counseling work has also given him insight into domestic issues, particularly emotional abuse.
“There are folks who found it easier to deal with being hit than dealing with emotional abuse. If this was physical abuse, people would jump right on it. But what do we do about emotional abuse?” he asked. “With physical abuse, there is a mark and you see it. But with emotional abuse, the victim is often fearful (and doesn’t show outward signs).”
VanGerpen also holds an insight into the state corrections system after working seven years as a counselor at Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield. “Who speaks for the guards and who speaks for the other people in the system?” he asked.
Besides his six years in the Legislature, VanGerpen has served six years on the Bon Homme school board. He will bring that experience into his role as vice chairman of the House Education Committee.
VanGerpen said he sees upcoming battles in two education areas: the small-school factor, which provides an additional 20 percent in state aid per student, and the sparsity factor, which provides more funding for large districts with relatively few students.
He is also concerned about the property-tax overhaul which can result in higher taxes for farmers and ranchers.
“We need a strong voice for the rural areas,” he said. “You have to win two elections — the general election and then the respect of the legislators up there (in Pierre). You have to persuade them about what you think is good for all of South Dakota.”
A proposed ban on all public smoking also appears headed for the Legislature, VanGerpen said. He sees a battle between public health and individual freedom.
But the overriding issue appears to be the budget and state economy, VanGerpen said.
“I was shocked. When I left the Legislature in 2004, we had $110 million-plus in the personal property-tax replacement fund,” he said. “Now, I come back and the governor tells us in the budget address that it’s going down to $4 million. That was our rainy day fund, and it’s gone in four years.”
VanGerpen said he opposes spending the reserves, and he sees an uncertainty of federal funding. The state trust funds are also not producing the needed revenue, he said.
For the most part, VanGerpen has enjoyed a smooth transition back into the Legislature. He admits he finds frustration with adjusting to the laptop computers provided each legislator.
“They plan to have all the bills on computer, not printed where you could reach each word (on paper),” he said.
VanGerpen believes his views are well known, particularly on issues such as abortion, property taxes and rural schools. He noted seven students from his legislative district are attending the University of South Dakota medical school, a sign of the value of small schools.
However, he would like to see education place more emphasis on morals and character.
“I am concerned about the next generation,” he said. “After my experiences in Europe and what I see in society, I worry about us drifting away from our values.”
VanGerpen said he doesn’t intend to become a career politician, noting South Dakotans support term limits. He also believes that new people bring new ideas to the Legislature.
He enjoys the give-and-take found in the Legislature. “I enjoy being around these kind of people who enjoy what they do,” he said, adding that he prays for good leadership and decisions.
VanGerpen said he looks forward to serving his constituents in the upcoming session.
“My ambition in life is to help people,” he said. “I enjoy working for the person in the street. I enjoy working for legislative issues that touch people.”
As he has seen in recent years, VanGerpen also realizes that he doesn’t ultimately control the direction of his life.
“God has a plan,” he said. “He may open a door and you walk through it. Or He may close one door and open another.”
VanGerpen has experienced a number of unexpected callings in recent years. Those callings forced him to leave the Legislature four years ago, then led him back to Pierre starting today (Tuesday) for the first day of the session.
“I had been serving in the House and was re-elected in 2004 to serve another two years, but then came the military call,” VanGerpen said. “I was in the Air Force Reserve, and I was mobilized with the Iowa National Guard. I was going to serve full-time duty in Iowa for two years, so I resigned from the Legislature.”
Nearly the entire full term remained for the District 19 seat. Another Republican, Gary Jerke of Tripp, was appointed to represent the district, comprised of Bon Homme, Douglas, Hutchinson and northwest Turner counties.
With his political career on hold, VanGerpen also left his pastorate at Tyndall Baptist Church as well as his farming operation. He left behind many things, but he also found a tremendous need awaiting him.
The Iowa National Guard had created a pilot project in 2005 called “Enduring Families.” The program was designed to help veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan deal with the stress of re-entering civilian life. According to the Iowa National Guard, attendance is mandatory for all soldiers. Family member attendance is highly encouraged and appreciated.
Iowa was the first state to offer the program. Mental-health workers, other professionals and religious leaders gave more than 250,000 volunteer service hours in debriefing about 2,000 soldiers in the program’s first months, according to the Business Record of Des Moines.
As a chaplain, VanGerpen worked for the Iowa adjutant general and was called upon for his spiritual and counseling services.
“You had airmen and soldiers who were gone 12 to 18 months. They were separated from their family,” he said. “I tried to help them deal with the PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).”
In a separate program, VanGerpen briefed soldiers before they entered combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. In addition, he served on the staff of the Reserve Component National Security Course. He also developed a marriage enrichment weekend for soldiers and spouses. And in perhaps his most difficult duty, he delivered the news of a soldier’s death to the family on about six occasions.
After returning from his two-year stint, VanGerpen retired from the military and settled into civilian life. But he soon found himself uprooted in his ministry.
“I was serving Tyndall Baptist Church when they decided to close the church rather than spend a great deal of money to renovate it,” he said. “A delegation from East Lake Andes Lutheran Church came to our church’s sale, looking for pews. They saw me and asked if I would be available (as pastor).”
VanGerpen met with the East Lake Andes Lutheran leaders, where they discussed his possible role.
“I am Baptist, so there are some doctrinal issues. But the church board and I talked about it,” he said. “They offered me the position. We have a lay pastor who preaches two Sundays, and I preach two Sundays with visitation.”
VanGerpen has served the church for a year, and he enjoys working with the rural congregation. The church, located along U.S. Highway 281, has undergone renovations and sports a healthy membership, he said.
“They have a tremendous group of people from Parkston, Wagner, Ravinia and Pickstown,” he said. “And they have so many young families with children. There are tremendous opportunities.”
With a new pastorate and a return to the farm, VanGerpen felt very satisfied with life. His wife, Karen, was teaching special education at the Springfield school in the Bon Homme school district. The couple wanted to spend more time with their children and grandchildren. Their “family” has included exchange students from Israel and Japan.
A return to politics was definitely not on the radar screen. “When I came back (from military service) in 2006, I needed a break. I had no intention of running,” Van Gerpen said.
But sometimes in politics, the right time chooses you rather than the other way around.
Jerke dropped out of the 2008 legislative race after the GOP primary in June, and the Republicans sought a replacement candidate.
VanGerpen initially resisted the urging of others to get into the race.
“There was harvest coming up. I wasn’t going to run (for office) and try to come back (into politics),” he said. “I told folks that, no, I want to be with my grandchildren. They said, ‘Don’t you care about your grandchildren?’ I said, ‘Well, yes,’ and they said, ‘Then you get your name on the ballot.’”
VanGerpen found himself on the campaign trail after a four-year hiatus. He finished first in the five-man race with 5,661 votes, listed on 35 percent of the ballots cast. Republican incumbent Jim Putnam of Armour won the other seat.
“I am very blessed that the people of District 19 chose me,” VanGerpen said. “I have a pretty conservative district, and I reflect what they think.”
VanGerpen comes from a family of politicians. His great-grandfather served as a legislator, and his uncle was a legislator in Iowa. Bill’s father, Roland, served as a South Dakota lawmaker until dying in office of a heart attack in July 1983. Bill’s mother, Louise, was appointed to finish the final year of the term.
And Bill’s uncle, Ed VanGerpen, was recently elected to serve on the Bon Homme County Commission, representing the Avon area.
Bill VanGerpen’s political connections don’t end with family ties. He attended Southwestern Seminary in Forth Worth, Texas, with former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. He also attended seminary with Rick Warren, pastor of the Saddleback Church who wrote “The Purpose Driven Life,” hosted a presidential forum last fall and will offer a prayer at Pres.-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration next week.
As he begins his new term in Pierre, Bill VanGerpen said his life experiences will shape his time in the Legislature.
After attending college in Springfield, he served in the Air Force for seven years and worked with security and personnel matters. He was stationed in Germany and traveled extensively in Europe.
During a chilling experience, VanGerpen toured the Dachau concentration camp and saw the gas chambers. He also saw the cemetery where prisoners dug their own graves.
“It was a great experience being over there (in Europe), but I really appreciate being an American,” he said.
VanGerpen also brings experiences from his recent work with the Iowa National Guard. He saw returning soldiers and airmen who couldn’t talk about their experiences and underwent difficulties readjusting to their families and civilian life.
“It’s interesting what is on the minds of soldiers,” he said, adding that many soldiers were bothered by the July 4 fireworks reminding them of combat.
VanGerpen wants to work on legislative issues for veterans and their families. His pastoral and counseling work has also given him insight into domestic issues, particularly emotional abuse.
“There are folks who found it easier to deal with being hit than dealing with emotional abuse. If this was physical abuse, people would jump right on it. But what do we do about emotional abuse?” he asked. “With physical abuse, there is a mark and you see it. But with emotional abuse, the victim is often fearful (and doesn’t show outward signs).”
VanGerpen also holds an insight into the state corrections system after working seven years as a counselor at Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield. “Who speaks for the guards and who speaks for the other people in the system?” he asked.
Besides his six years in the Legislature, VanGerpen has served six years on the Bon Homme school board. He will bring that experience into his role as vice chairman of the House Education Committee.
VanGerpen said he sees upcoming battles in two education areas: the small-school factor, which provides an additional 20 percent in state aid per student, and the sparsity factor, which provides more funding for large districts with relatively few students.
He is also concerned about the property-tax overhaul which can result in higher taxes for farmers and ranchers.
“We need a strong voice for the rural areas,” he said. “You have to win two elections — the general election and then the respect of the legislators up there (in Pierre). You have to persuade them about what you think is good for all of South Dakota.”
A proposed ban on all public smoking also appears headed for the Legislature, VanGerpen said. He sees a battle between public health and individual freedom.
But the overriding issue appears to be the budget and state economy, VanGerpen said.
“I was shocked. When I left the Legislature in 2004, we had $110 million-plus in the personal property-tax replacement fund,” he said. “Now, I come back and the governor tells us in the budget address that it’s going down to $4 million. That was our rainy day fund, and it’s gone in four years.”
VanGerpen said he opposes spending the reserves, and he sees an uncertainty of federal funding. The state trust funds are also not producing the needed revenue, he said.
For the most part, VanGerpen has enjoyed a smooth transition back into the Legislature. He admits he finds frustration with adjusting to the laptop computers provided each legislator.
“They plan to have all the bills on computer, not printed where you could reach each word (on paper),” he said.
VanGerpen believes his views are well known, particularly on issues such as abortion, property taxes and rural schools. He noted seven students from his legislative district are attending the University of South Dakota medical school, a sign of the value of small schools.
However, he would like to see education place more emphasis on morals and character.
“I am concerned about the next generation,” he said. “After my experiences in Europe and what I see in society, I worry about us drifting away from our values.”
VanGerpen said he doesn’t intend to become a career politician, noting South Dakotans support term limits. He also believes that new people bring new ideas to the Legislature.
He enjoys the give-and-take found in the Legislature. “I enjoy being around these kind of people who enjoy what they do,” he said, adding that he prays for good leadership and decisions.
VanGerpen said he looks forward to serving his constituents in the upcoming session.
“My ambition in life is to help people,” he said. “I enjoy working for the person in the street. I enjoy working for legislative issues that touch people.”
As he has seen in recent years, VanGerpen also realizes that he doesn’t ultimately control the direction of his life.
“God has a plan,” he said. “He may open a door and you walk through it. Or He may close one door and open another.”
 |
 |
|
| Special Needs Support Group On Jan. 21 | City Commission Considers Changes To Vegetation Ordinance |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
Not registered yet?
