Meet your neighbor Darren Beachy, born in Washington, IA and raised in Kalona and Clarion, IA.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Jenna Clayton, Quill Reporter
Meet your neighbor Darren Beachy, born in Washington, IA and raised in Kalona and Clarion, IA.
Beachy is the son of Ernie and Jeanie Beachy and was raised with three brothers.
His father grew up in an Amish family but eventually they broke away from the Amish traditions. Many of his family members and relatives are Amish or Mennonite.
His mother grew up in Mennonite tradition and both his parents belong to the Mennonite Church in southern Missouri.
Growing up Beachy's father was a mechanic and owned his own shop. He worked for his father when he was fourteen and then, at nineteen, joined the U.S. Navy.
Beachy graduated the eighth grade in 1979 at age fourteen and immediately started working as a mechanic for his father.
He received his GED in Japan while in the Navy. He graduated Cum Laude from Harding University in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in Bible and Ministry.
He is currently the Senior Pastor of the La Harpe Christian Church and has previously been pastor of churches in Wisconsin and Maryland.
He is married to his wife Dede and has three children, DeAnna, Darci, and Danielle.
Beachy's hobbies include biking, reading, and when it snows, cross country skiing. This year he plans on riding the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Race Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) for the first time.
He remembers graduating college with honors at age thirty-two as a memorable time in his life when he was sure all he needed was an eighth grade education.
A quote that Beachy is very fond of by Anne Lamott is, "You can tell you have created God in your own image when He hates all the same people you do."