John Kooiker

Last updated
Sherry Kooiker
​
(m. 1971)​
John Kooiker
John Kooiker - Official Portrait - 86th GA.jpg
86th General Assembly portrait (2015)
Member of the IowaHouseofRepresentatives
from the 4th district
In office
January 13, 2015 –January 8, 2017
Children4; including Sam
Residence Boyden, Iowa
OccupationTeacher, Farmer
Website legis.iowa.gov/...
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/service United States Army

John J. Kooiker (born June 28, 1946) is an American politician affiliated with the Republican Party who served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2015 to 2017. He was elected from the fourth district.

Contents

Early life and career

Kooiker is one of seven children born to John and Johanna Kooiker (née Vermeer). [1] He graduated from Western Christian High School in 1964, as class valedictorian. [2] He attended Calvin College, graduating in 1968, [3] then Kansas State University, where he earned a masters in math education. [4] [5] Kooiker served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. [6] He left the army and began teaching math and physics at the Christian Academy in Japan in 1972. [7] [8] Kooiker returned to the United States in 1975, and pursued Ph.D studies, later moving to rural Boyden, Iowa. He worked for the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier from 1977 to 2005. [4]

Political career

Kooiker defeated Democrat John Bunstma and write-in candidate Dennis Wright, a former mayor of Hull, Iowa, [9] in the special election called on January 6, 2015, after the November 2014 death of Dwayne Alons. [10] He was sworn into office on January 13, 2015. [11] Kookier served on the Labor, Local Government, Public Safety, and Veteran Affairs committees and co-chaired the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals Appropriations Subcommittee. [12] In October 2015, Kooiker stated that he would not seek a second term. [13] He endorsed Skyler Wheeler, who won the Republican primary for the Fourth District in June 2016. [14] [15]

Personal

Kooiker and his wife Sherry have four children. [4] One of his sons, Sam, first ran for the mayor of Rapid City, South Dakota in 2007, but lost. He ran again and won the office in 2011, serving until 2015. A daughter, Bonnie, died of cancer in October 2007. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sioux County, Iowa</span> County in Iowa, United States

Sioux County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,872. Its county seat is Orange City. Its largest city is Sioux Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Vander Plaats</span> American politician and conservative activist

Robert Lee Vander Plaats is an American politician and political activist. Since 2010, he has been the president and CEO of The Family Leader, a socially conservative organization in Iowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwayne Alons</span> American politician

Dwayne Arlan Alons was an American politician. A Republican, he sat in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1999 to 2014, representing the 5th district until 2003, and the 4th district thereafter. He was a brigadier general in the Iowa Air National Guard and served as chief of staff at its headquarters. Alons died of cancer on November 29, 2014. He was succeeded in office by John Kooiker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy Feenstra</span> American politician (born 1969)

Randall Lee Feenstra is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative for Iowa's 4th congressional district. The district covers the western border of the state, including Sioux City and Council Bluffs, but stretches as far east as Story County, Franklin County, and Marshall County, including Ames.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Christian High School (Hull, Iowa)</span> Private secondary school in Hull, Iowa, United States

Western Christian High School is a private, coeducational, Calvinist private secondary school in Hull, Iowa, United States, serving students in grades 9–12. Western Christian High School is a member of Christian Schools International (CSI). It is one of two private high schools in Hull, along with Trinity Christian High School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Taylor (politician)</span> American politician

Jeremy J. Taylor is an American educator and Republican politician. He served a single term on the Iowa House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013, and was a member of the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors between 2014 and 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boyden–Hull Junior/High School</span> Public secondary school in Hull, Iowa, United States

Boyden–Hull Junior/High School is the only public middle and high school located in Hull, Iowa, United States. It is a part of the Boyden–Hull Community School District. Their mascot is the Comet. The school's athletic teams compete in the Siouxland Conference. A few sports are shared with Rock Valley High School, a fellow Siouxland Conference member. The combined teams are known as the Nighthawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Kooiker</span> American politician

Sam Kooiker is an American politician who served as Mayor of Rapid City, South Dakota from 2011 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses</span>

The 2016 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses took place on February 1 in the U.S. state of Iowa, traditionally marking the Republican Party's first nominating contest in their series of presidential primaries ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa</span>

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa were held on November 6, 2018, to elect the four U.S. representatives from the State of Iowa, one from each of the state's four congressional districts. The elections coincided with the gubernatorial election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections. The state congressional delegation flipped from a 3–1 Republican majority to a 3–1 Democratic majority. The Democrats had last won the majority of Iowa's seats in the 2010 elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyler Wheeler</span> American politician

Skyler Wheeler is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he has served as member of the Iowa House of Representatives, representing the 4th district since 2017.

Chuck Holz is a Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives, representing the 5th district. Wheeler was first elected in a November 3, 2015 special election held to fill a vacancy created when Republican Representative Chuck Soderberg resigned upon moving out of district for a new job.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa</span>

The 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the four U.S. representatives from the state of Iowa, one from each of the state's four congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Jeneary</span> American politician from Iowa

Thomas Michael Jeneary is an American politician in the state of Iowa. He was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 2018 and his term was set to end on January 8, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Iowa House of Representatives election</span>

The 2018 Iowa House of Representative elections took place on November 6, 2018, to elect representatives from all 100 districts. The winners of this will serve in 88th General Assembly, with apportioned among the states based on the 2010 United States census. The Republican Party retained control of the House, while losing a net gain of 5 seats to Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Taylor (politician)</span> American political scientist and politician (born 1961)

Jeffrey Taylor is an American political scientist, politician, and a Republican Party member of the Iowa Senate from District 2 since January 11, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Bush</span> American politician

Dennis Bush is an American politician from Iowa.

Kevin Alons is an American politician. Before contesting the 2022 Iowa Senate election, Alons served in the Iowa Air National Guard.

Rocky De Witt is an American politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Henderson (American politician)</span> American politician

Robert Henderson is an American politician.

References

  1. ↑ "Kooiker, Johanna (Mrs. John) 1908-1993". Sioux County Index. September 9, 1993. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  2. ↑ "John J. Kooiker Plans to Study Chemistry at Calvin". Sioux County Index. July 2, 1964. p. 1. Retrieved January 17, 2015– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Welcome class of 1968: 50-year reunion dinner" (PDF). Calvin University. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 Hall, Jacob (December 19, 2014). "Kooiker gets GOP nod for HD 4". The Iowa Statesmen. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  5. ↑ De Wit, June (December 31, 2014). "Kooiker Buntsma vying for state". Sioux County Index Reporter. p. 2. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  6. ↑ McLaughlin, John Lee (January 8, 2015). "Rapid City mayor's dad elected to Iowa Legislature". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  7. ↑ "[No title]". Sioux County Index. September 21, 1972. p. 11. Retrieved July 2, 2015– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "John Kooiker to leach in Higashi". Sioux County Index. June 15, 1972. p. 5. Retrieved January 11, 2018– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Hayworth, Bret (January 8, 2015). "Kooiker takes on Iowa House District 4 position". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  10. ↑ Murphy, Erin (January 6, 2015). "Kooiker wins easily in special Iowa House District 4 vote". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  11. ↑ "First day marked by lighter moments". Des Moines Register. January 13, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  12. ↑ Eschliman, Bob (October 20, 2015). "Kooiker not seeking re-election in HD 4; Wheeler steps up". The Iowa Statesman. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Iowa Rep. John Kooiker says he will not seek re-election". Washington Times. Associated Press. October 19, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  14. ↑ Hayworth, Bret (May 25, 2016). "3 Sioux County Republicans aim to advance out of primary". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  15. ↑ Richardson, Ian (June 7, 2016). "Skyler Wheeler, 23, wins Iowa House District 4 GOP race". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Obituaries for October 23, 2007". Rapid City Journal. October 23, 2007. Bonnie Lynn (Kooiker) Matulka. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.