ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich. — A man who dedicated his life to serving his community, Allegan County Commissioner Dean Kapenga, passed away Monday, leaving his colleagues trying to balance mourning his loss with the difficult task of finding someone to fill his place.
“There’s a legendary figure named Paul Bunyan. These are the kind of shoes we’re looking at,” said Jim Storey, chairman of the Allegan County Board of Commissioners. “They’re Paul Bunyan-sized shoes that Dean Kapenga left behind.”
Allegan County Commissioner Dean Kapenga has died at the age of 69
A different kind of legend lives on today in Allegan County.
“He has managed to bring out the best in people, and that is a unique situation,” Storey said.
According to Storey and Kapenga’s family, he did just about everything a single person could do for their community.
“He basically dedicated 50 years of his life to Allegan County,” Storey told FOX 17.
He spent his first 30 years with the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office, where he held various positions and was twice named Deputy of the Year.
Amanda Kapenga
Since 2007, Kapenga served as a county commissioner alongside Storey. He expanded that role to also serve as chair of Allegan’s Community Action Board, chair of the county’s 911 Emergency Services Board, and a member of the Commission on Aging.
“The Allegan County Board of Commissioners was a really good board because he brought exactly the kind of calm and composure that makes boards effective,” Storey said.
Storey said the county grew 8 percent from 2010 to 2020, with Kapenga playing a key role.
But they were not just colleagues. They were close friends.
“He laughed at your jokes, even when your jokes weren’t really great,” Storey said.
Amanda Kapenga
When he wasn’t working, Kapenga was always up for an adventure, whether it was hiking, boating or spending time with his 17 grandchildren, his family told FOX 17.
They said he was a man of integrity and strong faith.
“When he died,” Storey said, “he and his wife were supposed to have left the day before for a mission trip to Guatemala to help build a house there.”
Storey said Kapenga suffered several strokes over the weekend before passing away on Monday, Aug. 5. He was 69, according to Dykstra Funeral Homes.
On Wednesday, Storey recalled one of their last interactions.
“He looked at me and said, ‘You know, Jim,’ he says, ‘you really put your all into the work of the County Commission. More than the rest.’ That was a nice compliment. I didn’t think enough to go back and say, ‘Yeah, but back to you. You’re doing the same thing,'” Storey said.
Amanda Kapenga
Although Kapenga himself seems irreplaceable, the district commissioners are nevertheless obliged to fill his post within 30 days.
Storey said it was a process they would complete but would not begin until their grief was over.
Now he’s calling on others to do the same.
“If you want to pay tribute to someone who has served the public in this way, spend some time thinking about, ‘How did they help me?’ or ‘What impact did they have on my life?’ If prayer is a part of your life, say a prayer of thanks for it,” Storey said.
A viewing is planned for this Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Central Wesleyan Church (Entrance H, Parking Lot 5).
Kapenga’s funeral will take place in the nave on Saturday, following a one-hour vigil beginning at 9 a.m.
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