Euel Kinsey
Clinton Township, MI
Euel received his B.B.A. and a minor in Economics from the University Of Michigan School Of Business in 1981, and his J.D. from the University Of Detroit School Of Law in 1984. A long time resident of Clinton Township, Michigan, Euel has been a member of Lifeline Pilots for more than 12 years. He has served on Lifeline’s Board of Directors several years. Euel served as Chairman from 2008-2010. He is licensed to practice law in seven states but actively practices in four, Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Arkansas. He is an AV rated lawyer and was recognized as one of Michigan’s Super Lawyers in 2010. Euel has been a pilot for more than 25 years. He owns and flies a Cessna 310 based at Detroit City Airport (KDET). He has served as the Airport Support Network Volunteer for the AOPA at his home airport since the program’s inception. In 2005, Euel received AOPA’s Sharples Award in recognition for his work to protect and preserve his home airport in a battle against the City’s mayor. Euel has also served on the Council for the State Bar of Michigan Aviation Law Section for several years and served as Chairman of the Section from 2009 – 2010 and periodically lectures on issues facing Volunteer Pilot Organizations.
Jerome Mauer
Peoria, IL
A resident of Peoria, IL, Mr. Mauer is a tax partner in the office of Clifton Gunderson LLP. He joined the firm in February 1981, and became a member and Director of Taxation effective October 1, 1985. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from the University of Iowa, a Master of Science in Taxation from DePaul University, and received his CPA Certificate in Illinois. Mr. Mauer’s background includes four years of service as a Revenue Agent for the Internal Revenue Service in the Chicago area. His areas of specialization include corporate, individual, partnerships, and planning for the closely held businesses and their owners and employees, and representing clients before the IRS, including Appellate Division. Mr. Mauer has authored a number of articles for national tax publications, and is a frequent speaker on tax subjects for civic and professional groups. He also served on the University of Iowa Professional Accounting Council. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, has served on the Small Business Taxation Sub-Committee, and is a member of the Illinois CPA Society and Central Illinois Estate Planning Council. He is presently serving on the Steering Committee for the AICPA National Tax Education Program.
Dick Miller
Washington, IL
Mr. Miller is a retired business owner. In 1965, Mr. Miller founded Miller Welding and Iron Works where in their custom shop they manufacture heavy machined parts, metal assemblies and finished components. He has been flying over 40 years with instrument, commercial and multi-engine ratings. He has also flown over 100 missions for LifeLine Pilots in the past 10 years. At the LifeLine Pilots’ Annual Banquet, Hope in a Hangar 2010, he was the recipient of the “Outstanding Volunteer Pilot” award for his generousity to our passengers and organization. Mr. Miller previously served on the LifeLine Pilots’ Board of Directors with the founder, Wanda Whitsitt.
Brad Neihouser
Francesville, IN
Mr. Neihouser is a successful commercial farmer as well as owning and operating a real estate and auction business specializing in farm real estate. Mr. Neihouser has been flying for over 30 years and has flown many missions for LifeLine Pilots. He has also served in his local community on the Pulaski County Development Commission and is a board member of the Pulaski West Developers Corporation.
Michael Peifer
Washington, IL
Michael has served in the financial services industry since 1986. A former VP in banking, Michael is a licensed financial advisor. Michael lectures on financial strategies at the CAT/IDOT conference and also at the Illinois Central College Professional Development Institute. Michael's adventures include panning for gold in Alaska, a hot-air balloon above the mountains in Arizona, and climbing the great Maya pyramid in the ruins of Chi'chen Itza, Mexico. Michael's family owns and operates a successful retail business in Washington, IL, where he and his wife, Lori, reside with their three children. Michael has been involved with volunteer and charitable organizations his entire career, having served Easter Seals, the Cancer Center for Healthy Living, United Way, and the W.D. Boyce Council. Michael is a former Cubmaster and group leader for Cub Scouts. Michael was first introduced to flying by his father, Gary, a former pilot.
Gary Rahmeyer
Vandalia, MO
Gary Rahmeyer has been a pilot since 1978. He has logged over 2300 flight hours, mostly in his 1977 Beech Baron that he has used for LifeLine Pilots’ mission over the past five years. Gary joined LifeLine Pilots in 1994 and has flown 49 missions since being with the organization. His love of flying and helping those with medical and compassion needs makes being a part of LifeLine Pilots a must! Gary is a licensed funeral director and owns Waters Funeral Home in Vandalia, MO.
Jim Svec
Berwyn, IL
A resident of New Buffalo, Michigan, Jim began flying in 1987. He has been a LifeLine Pilot since 1989. He has flown 17 charitable missions for LifeLine Pilots and has helped out in several more. He has been a board member for almost 11 years, and the recording secretary for one year. Jim graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1977 and Morton College in 1978. He has been a funeral director in Berwyn, IL since 1977. He began the LifeLine memorial/donation program in 1990. Jim was a professional off shore race boat navigator in the early 90s and World Cup Champion in 1992. He feels that being a part of LifeLine Pilots has been the most rewarding experience of his life!
Christiansen von Wormer
Grosse Point Farms, MI
Chris has had a business career full of variety. After graduating from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida with a B.A. in economics and a Masters Degree in Business Administration he went into advertising, eventually becoming a field account executive (stationed in Washington D.C.) for Ross Roy Advertising on the Chrysler Corporation account. Discovering his interest in the car dealership business, Chris became President of von Wormer-Huvaere Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge in Richmond, Michigan. He then tried his hand at residential land lording, but he wasn’t busy enough so he earned his J.D. at The University of Detroit School of Law. Rather than practice law however, he became President of Wright-Austin Company of Detroit and manufactured an industrial product. After many years Chris sold the manufacturing company and became a commercial landlord with small office buildings in Grosse Pointe Farms. He sold his office buildings in 2006 (before the real estate market crash) and is currently buying homes at auction suitable for renting. Chris has been a commercial, multi-engine, instrument rated pilot for 25 years. He owns and operates a Beechcraft Baron based at Detroit City Airport. Chris joined LifeLine Pilots in 2006. He also enjoys captaining a cabin cruiser around the Great Lakes and riding his motorcycle. Chris currently resides with his family in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan.
Wanda Whitsitt (1)
Champaign, IL
A resident of Champaign, IL, Wanda took up flying in 1978. After achieving her private and commercial license, she attained an instrument rating and taught the private pilot class for three years at Frasca Aviation in Urbana, IL. An interest in using this special skill led to the formation of LifeLine Pilots. She and her husband, Don, enjoyed 25 years of flying in their Piper Archer. Although she no longer flies, she continues to serves on the LifeLine Pilots Board of Directors and participates in community activities and keeps busy with their four children and 11 grandchildren.
Board of Directors
Robert Benda Centennial, CO
Nancy Blake Peoria, IL
Rich Borovec Champaign, IL
David Boyd Champaign, IL
George Busha (2) Cedar Rapids, IA
John Goddard East Peoria, IL
David Kantor Louisville, KY
Euel Kinsey (2) Clinton Township, MI
Jerry Mauer Peoria, IL
Dick Miller Washington, IL
Brad Neihouser Francesville, IN
Michael Peifer Washington, IL
Gary Rahmeyer Vandalia, MO
Jim Svec Berwyn, IL
Christiansen von Wormer Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Wanda Whitsitt (1)
Champaign, IL
(1) Ex Officio
(2) Past Chairperson
Executive Committee
Michael Peifer - Chairman
Gary Rahmeyer - Vice Chairman
Wanda Whitsitt - Founding Member
Nancy Blake
George Busha
Euel Kinsey
Jerry Mauer
Robert Benda
Centennial, CO
Robert is a Manager of Aviation Training Production at Jeppesen. Mr. Benda’s team writes and publishes the written and on-line training material for the pilot and aviation technician under the Jeppesen name. Mr. Benda holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Management from
Metropolitan State College of Denver; a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from
George Washington University, and a Master of Science Degree in Project/Program
Management from the University of Management and Technology, Arlington Virginia.
He is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and is active in the Mile High
Chapter of PMI. He also has a background in teaching private, commercial, and instrument ground rates; Single/Multi engine flight simulation; and the Certified Flight Instructor courses. As well as being an active volunteer pilot for LifeLine Pilots, Mr. Benda also is involved with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and has recently rejoined the Experimental Aircraft Association to become involved with the Young Eagles program. He and his wife, Pamela, have four children and one grandson.
Nancy Blake
Peoria, IL
Nancy A. Blake is currently a member of the Board of Directors for LifeLine Pilots and serves as Recording Secretary. Previously, she was employed by LifeLine Pilots as office manager and secretary to the Board of Directors from 1997 – 2001. She was Executive Director of the Illinois Aviation Trades Association from 1992 – 1995. Nancy also previously served as President of Wives of Peoria Lawyers, Executive Secretary to the President and CEO of Great Central Insurance Company, Peoria, IL and Executive Secretary to the General Counsel of the Air Force in the Pentagon, Washington, DC. She married Bill Blake in 1962 and moved to Peoria, IL in 1967 where he practiced law. They continue to reside in Peoria. Her father was a career Army officer. She and her four sisters lived on Army posts in the Midwest, Southwest, and Germany as they grew up. Nancy is an instrument rated pilot. She and her husband have two children and five grandchildren.
Rich Borovec
Champaign, IL
Richard Borovec, an instrument rated private pilot for the past 25 years, has been associated with LifeLine Pilots since 1985. He has served on the organizing committee for Plane Fun Days and as Secretary of the organization. He received degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. Rich is the Vice President of Engineering and co-founder of CodexNovus, Inc. which produces high definition video servers for the home theatre and demonstration markets. He and his wife Jeanne, an Ikebana instructor and LifeLine Pilots’ unofficial flower arranger, live in Champaign, IL and have three grown sons. Rich is a member of the Enginaires Aero Club and uses their Cherokees for LifeLine Pilots’ missions which provide the most rewarding flying experiences.
David Boyd
Champaign, IL
David joins the LifeLine Pilots Board of Directors with his own experience of establishing and running a volunteer pilot organization. In 1985, he founded Banner Airways Ministries, aka: Banner Medical Airlift, a 501 (c) (3) organization. The mission of Banner was to provide long distance medical air transportation to needy people who could not afford commercial air ambulance services. Banner’s Navajo airplane, equipped with a stretcher and patient monitoring systems, was based in Lawrenceville/Vincennes International Airport where it completed approximately 150 medial mercy mission until 1994. David is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College and Ball State University. He served in the United States Air Force retiring with the rank of Major. His was a Professor in the Aviation Flight Department of Vincennes University as well as Assistant Chief Flight Instructor at the University of Illinois, Institute of Aviation. David has had his private pilot certificate since 1975. He also has a flight instructor and ATP rating. Currently, David is active as a Designated Pilot Examiner and free lance CFI. He also served his community as a Boy Scout Leader for 8 years. He and his wife, Diana, have 6 children.
George Busha
Cedar Rapids, IA
George has been a resident of Cedar Rapids Iowa since 1978. His wife Anne is a college professor and he has two sons who are both in university PhD graduate studies. He is the Plant Manager for Ralston Foods in Cedar Rapids. He currently serves on the board of directors of the following not-for-profit organizations: Families, Inc., West Branch Iowa Waypoint Services, Cedar Rapids Iowa (formerly YWCA) LifeLine Pilots, Peoria Illinois. Among his many interests and hobbies are his family, fitness, skiing, and aviation. He is an Instrument Rated Commercial Pilot, owns and flies a ‘72’ Comanche 260C. He is a member of AOPA, EAA, Comanche Society, LifeLine Pilots & Angel Flight.
John Goddard
East Peoria, IL
John is a Manager at Caterpillar in a newly formed division focused on Energy and Sustainability technology across the enterprise. John’s primary role is to help position customers for success in the low carbon economy. John also works with Caterpillar research partners to rapidly commercialize new technology. John’s 22 year career at Caterpillar includes a variety of assignments in Research, Engine Development and Product Validation. In 2007, John served as the chair of the ETI (Energy Technologies Institute) Technical Committee and facilitated the technology selection process during the formative stages of this government-industry partnership. The ETI will become a $200M per year research consortium that is focused on commercializing sustainable energy technologies. John has demonstrated team leadership at Caterpillar as the facilitator for the Caterpillar research portfolio prioritization – an annual process that prioritized $80M of research projects for the enterprise. John has also lead a product design team that directly impacts the design of power sources in $3.5B of annual machine sales. John’s strengths are his abilities to work with and facilitate groups and help these groups establish a vision for their future. John has demonstrated his ability to facilitate teams through the resolution of complex issues, and to develop focused actions to carry forward. John graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and has completed Management for the 21st Century” at Bradley University. He is married to Karoline Seitz-Goddard and has one child, Mitchell. John’s personal interests include fitness training, automobiles and facilitating special interest groups. He has participated in community events including coaching running groups for the Steamboat 4 mile race, Rebuilding Together and the United Way.
David Kantor
Louisville, KY
A resident of Prospect, KY David has been a LifeLine Pilot volunteer since 2001. He has flown over 50 charitable missions for AirLifeLine, Angel Flight and LifeLine Pilots combined. He has been married for 17 years. He and his wife have a son and twin daughters. David graduated in 1987 from Purdue University with a BS Degree in Aviation Technology. That year he started his flying career in Fresno, CA with United Express. He has been a UPS pilot since 1989. David has held the positions of DC-8 Flight Engineer, B-747 First Officer, B-757/767 Captain/Instructor and is currently a MD-11 Captain/Instructor. For the past ten years, David has been instructing in the UPS Flight Training Center. Currently, David is also a FAA Aviation Safety Counselor, FAA CFII – Master Instructor, Ultralight Powered Parachute Instructor, the Founder/CEO of UltraFlight Aviation and a frequent Purdue University Guest Lector.
