Euel Kinsey
Clinton Township, MI

A resident of Clinton Township, Michigan, Euel has been a member of LifeLine Pilots for more than 9 years.  He has served on the Board of Directors for the past year, currently serving on the Development Fundraising Committee. He has a B.B.A. from the University Of Michigan School Of Business, with a Minor in Economics.  Euel also has a J.D. from the University Of Detroit School Of Law. He has active law practices in Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Arkansas.  He also is licensed to practice law in Texas, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania. Euel has been a pilot for more than 20 years.  He owns a Cessna 310, which is based in Detroit, MI.  He serves as an Airport Support Network Representative for the AOPA at his home airport and received the Sharples Award from the AOPA for his service.

Keith Laken
Winona, MN

Keith retired from Watlow Electric as President of Watlow Polymer Technologies, and vice president of the parent company. He earned his MBA at Washington University and his Bachelor of Arts in Business Management through Webster University.  He also served as President of the Winona State University Foundation, and is an advisor to their Composites Engineering Program. Diverse in his interests and abilities, Keith is an instrument rated private pilot.  He has been a member of LifeLine Pilots since 1994. He co-founded Mugby Junction, a chain of coffee shops in MN and assists startup and fast growth companies through Gription Resources, his consulting firm. Through his travels, Keith calls on hospitality homes, both present and future, and participates in several non-profit public service activities. Keith and his lovely wife, Virginia, have two grown children and take pleasure in spending time with them and their five grandchildren. 

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.

Michael Peifer
Washington, IL

Michael is a Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney located in Peoria, IL.  Michael has served in the financial services industry for over 23 years.  Michael’s family owns and operates a successful retail business in Washington, IL where he and his wife, Lori, reside with their three children.  They are active in the Washington Chamber of Commerce and volunteer in city activities like the annual Cherry Festival and Arts Festival.  Michael previously served as Director and Vice President for the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce.  Michael is also very active with other volunteer and non-profit organizations.  Michael and his family volunteer with Easter Seals of Peoria, the Cancer Center for Healthy Living in Peoria, the United Way of Central Illinois and the W.D. Boyce Council.  Michael is a former Cubmaster and group leader with Cub Scouts. Michael’s father, a former pilot, provided his initial exposure to flying.

Mark Pestal

Denver, CO

A resident of Denver, Colorado, Mark has been an Assistant United States Attorney with the Department of Justice since 1993.  Prior to that, he served as an Attorney-Advisor with the Department of Justice, Office of Legislative Affairs, and as an Associate General Counsel with the Washington Legal Foundation in Washington, D.C. Mark received his J.D in 1987, and his B.S. in Business-Finance in 1984, both from the University of Colorado in Boulder.  Mark has been published in several periodicals including Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Daily Journal and IFR and has given numerous presentations on trial and litigation strategies. Mark is a multi-engine instrument rated pilot.  He has been a member of AOPA since 1986 and has flown with the Civil Air Patrol from 1990 – 1993 and from May 2009 to present.

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
George Busha (3) Cedar Rapids, IA

Edward Cutler Denver, CO

Thomas Harrington Peoria, IL
David Kantor Louisville, KY
Paul Kaufmann Buffalo Grove, IL
Euel Kinsey (3) Clinton Township, MI
Keith Laken Winona, MN
Jerry Mauer Peoria, IL

Dick Miller Washington, IL

Brad Neihouser Francesville, IN
Michael Peifer Washington, IL

Mark Pestal Littleton, CO
Gary Rahmeyer Vandalia, MO
Jim Svec Berwyn, IL

Christiansen von Wormer Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Wanda Whitsitt (1) Champaign, IL

(1) Ex Officio
(2) Serves on Air Care Alliance, Board of Directors

(3) Past Chairperson

Executive Committee

Michael Peifer - Chairman

Gary Rahmeyer - Vice Chairman

Wanda Whitsitt - Founding Member

George Busha

Jerry Mauer

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. 

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.

Edward Cutler

Denver, CO

Currently a resident of Denver, Colorado, Ed began flying while a student at the University of Southern California, where he received a B.A. in International Relations in 1953. Ed earned his Flight Instructor certificate in 1958, and received an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Colorado in 1960.  While in college, Ed was in the Naval ROTC and later began his pilot training at Pensacola in 1954. He flew P2V-5F aircraft in the Fleet, eventually receiving the designation of Patrol Plane Commander. Ed completed his Naval Reserve duty as a Naval Aviator and Naval War College instructor from 1958 – 1966.  Ed worked in commercial aviation for 30 years, serving as a co-pilot, a flight instructor and a Captain. He also worked as an FAA Designated Examiner at a school for DC-8 aircraft. Ed enjoys mentoring pilots of newly-aquired multi engine planes, and is also active in flying Young Eagles, an EAA-sponsored program to attract young people to aviation.
Ed has been married for 55 years to Renee, a Registered Nurse. His daughter, Helene Wolk, is also a RN and her husband, Dr. Larry Wolk, is founder and CEO of Rocky Mountain Youth Clinics, which provides medical services for inner-city youth. Ed is the proud grandpa of four grandchildren, ranging in ages from 11 to 25.

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.