Western National Names Kapanke to Board

Edina, Minn.-based Western National Mutual Insurance Co. announced that John G. Kapanke joined its board of directors effective Aug. 16, 2004.
Kapanke has more than 30 years of financial and investment experience. For the last 17 years, he has served as CEO of the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a $5.5 billion nonprofit administering pension, health, disability and survivor benefits for nearly 50,000 ELCA pastors, rostered lay persons, lay employees and their families.

Prior to assuming this role, he served as senior vice president of investments for 14 years at the Board of Pensions of the Lutheran Church in America.

Western National Mutual is a member of the Western National Insurance Group, which consists of two regional property/casualty insurance companies with total assets of $313 million, annual direct written premium in excess of $200 million, and current surplus of $105 million. The mutual currently offers insurance products in Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin exclusively through independent agents.