John Kooiker

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.

John Kooiker
86th General Assembly portrait (2015)
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 4th district
In office
January 13, 2015 – January 8, 2017
Preceded byDwayne Alons
Succeeded bySkyler Wheeler
Personal details
Born (1946-06-28) June 28, 1946
Sioux County, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Sherry Kooiker
​
(m. 1971)​
Children4; including Sam
ResidenceBoyden, Iowa
OccupationTeacher, Farmer
Websitelegis.iowa.gov/...
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army

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]

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. 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.
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