Teacher hopes to give back to Big Brother program
Staff reporter
Kurt Herrel of rural Hillsboro is deeply grateful to the man who stepped up and became an important part of his life as his Big Brother. When Jackie Rice, director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Marion County, asked Kurt to serve on the county's executive board, Kurt was glad to give back to an organization that gave so much to him as a child.
For Maynard Knepp, also of rural Hillsboro, becoming a mentor more than 25 years ago seemed like the right thing to do.
"I did it on a whim," Maynard said, when asked why he got involved with Big Brothers of Hutchinson in the 1980s.
"I was mentored in my teens and 20s," he said, when he was a member of the Amish community near Yoder.
Alan King and Jerry Yoder of Hutchinson were Maynard's mentors so it seemed natural to him to be a mentor.
When he recalled his interview with the director of the Hutchinson organization, Maynard said he probably shouldn't have been considered.
"I was pretty rowdy," Maynard said, but the director saw something in Maynard that he thought would benefit nine-year-old Kurt of Haven.
"My parents were divorced," Kurt said. "I lived with my mother and my dad lived out-of-state."
And, besides, he had to keep up with his big brother who had just been given a big brother himself.
During that time in the early 1980s, Maynard was leading a church in the Amish community.
"We grew up together," Kurt said.
Their time together was working on Maynard's hog farm, hanging out at the bowling alley, playing arcade games, or just talking.
"We'd talk about our futures, families, and religion," Maynard said. "That's something that kids today are missing, face-to-face time with an adult."
"By talking about things, it created a safe zone," Kurt said. No matter what the topic or concern, Kurt knew Maynard would not judge him.
Maynard was recognized in 1982 as Kansas Big Brother of the Year.
As they both grew up, the little brother and his mentor continued their relationship. Kurt graduated from Haven High School in 1988.
Maynard eventually left the Amish community and married Carol Duerksen. When the couple married, they decided they would not have any children of their own.
As Kurt continued making life's decisions, Maynard was right there beside him all the way.
Kurt graduated from Kansas Newman College with a bachelor's degree in business and Concordia University in Wisconsin with a master's degree in education. He was in the U.S. Air Force for 18 years and has been a math teacher since 1999.
Currently he teaches math at Peabody-Burns Jr./Sr. High School.
His wife, Jeanelle is from California and teaches psychology at Tabor College. They have four children — Jacob, 11, Rebekah, 8, Bethany, 3, and Samuel, 2.
"Maynard and Carol are the reasons we returned to Kansas," Kurt said.
After the family came back to Marion County from Wisconsin a couple of years ago to celebrate Maynard's birthday, they decided to check job opportunities in the area.
The family moved to Marion County last May and live only four miles from Maynard and Carol.
"Everyone has a need for family and a sense of belonging," Maynard said.
Maynard considers Kurt his son and Kurt's children his grandchildren.
"We created our own family," Maynard said.
Even though Maynard has not been a big brother to any other boy through the Big Brother program, he continues to mentor youth through a mentoring program at Tabor Mennonite Church.
As an example, Maynard has mentored Michael Unruh through the church. Currently Michael attends Bethel College in North Newton and is a big brother through the Harvey County program.
And that's one reason why Kurt graciously agreed to be a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Marion County.
"The opportunity came available to serve on the board and I decided it was time to give back since I benefited so much as a child," Kurt said.
Both men encourage others to be mentors through the program.
"I got as much out of the program as Kurt did," Maynard said. "The big brother program meets the needs of both the big brother and the little brother."
Today the two grown men still spend time together as they work cattle and share ideas. Neither can imagine a life without the other.
"I gained a friend for life, four children I dearly love, and, of course, his wonderful wife," Maynard said.
"Life would have been different if Maynard wasn't a part of it," Kurt said. "I might have been divorced and less successful. Instead, I'm trying to be a positive role model and member of this community."
The Hutchinson Big Brother organization had a motto in 1982: "A man never stands so tall as when he stoops to help a boy."
Maynard's willingness to become involved in a young boy's life has changed forever the lives of two families. By helping Kurt he also helped himself.
Being a father to his children is sometimes trial and error for Kurt because he did not have a father as a role model when he was a child growing up; but with Maynard in his life when he was nine and now, he knows he will make it.
Setting an example for his children is important to Kurt. So much so, he and his wife are considering becoming foster parents and continuing the circle of caring.
