Lance Ropte Resigns As Warsaw Airport Manager
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Lance Ropte, manager of the Warsaw Municipal Airport for the past seven years, has submitted his resignation from the position, effective Saturday.
"I'm relocating back to Iowa and we're going to buy the family farm," Ropte said. "It's been in the family since 1881 and I've been thinking about this since my father passed away last year. We've been looking at going back since then. I'm moving back into the home I grew up in."
He added that had it not been for a deployment to Hungary with his Michigan Air National Guard unit, he would already have returned to Iowa.
"I stayed because I felt obligated to the Michigan Air National Guard and its deployment to Hungary," he said.
He will be returning to the private sector workforce in addition to managing the family farm, Ropte said. He will oversee the safety program for a national trucking firm.
He will miss Warsaw and Kosciusko County, he said. But he's leaving with the knowledge that the airport operation he's led since 1991 is one of the best in the region.
"This is one of the finest airports for its size in the Midwest," Ropte said. "It's also very safe. I don't know of any accidents ever at this airport."
He's proud of the improvement and growth that have occurred under his watch at the airport, he said, all of which have been made possible by the industry in and around Warsaw.
"When I took over, we had three jet aircraft. Now we have seven," he said. "With the installation of the instrument landing system (ILS), the airport is available for the corporate aircraft to land in any weather. The convenience of having that capability has resulted in increased sales of jet fuel for the airport and more revenue for the city.
"I'd have to say that the installation of the ILS has been the most significant accomplishment, followed by advanced weather forecasting system and the extension of the east-west runway as the major accomplishments of the airport."
Despite returning to his roots and the joy that will bring him, Ropte said, he will miss Warsaw and the relationships he has established here.
"This is a wonderful area to have lived in for 24 years," he said. "We have great parks and schools, making it a wonderful place to raise kids."
Mayor Enie Wiggins said he appreciates the contributions Ropte's work have brought to the operation of the airport and he will be missed.
"I'd like the thank Lance for all his work over the past 7 or 8 years and I wish him well in his purisuits back in Iowa," Wiggins said.
Ropte will be replaced by Karen Sheetz, who was his predecessor as airport manager, on an interim basis. [[In-content Ad]]
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Lance Ropte, manager of the Warsaw Municipal Airport for the past seven years, has submitted his resignation from the position, effective Saturday.
"I'm relocating back to Iowa and we're going to buy the family farm," Ropte said. "It's been in the family since 1881 and I've been thinking about this since my father passed away last year. We've been looking at going back since then. I'm moving back into the home I grew up in."
He added that had it not been for a deployment to Hungary with his Michigan Air National Guard unit, he would already have returned to Iowa.
"I stayed because I felt obligated to the Michigan Air National Guard and its deployment to Hungary," he said.
He will be returning to the private sector workforce in addition to managing the family farm, Ropte said. He will oversee the safety program for a national trucking firm.
He will miss Warsaw and Kosciusko County, he said. But he's leaving with the knowledge that the airport operation he's led since 1991 is one of the best in the region.
"This is one of the finest airports for its size in the Midwest," Ropte said. "It's also very safe. I don't know of any accidents ever at this airport."
He's proud of the improvement and growth that have occurred under his watch at the airport, he said, all of which have been made possible by the industry in and around Warsaw.
"When I took over, we had three jet aircraft. Now we have seven," he said. "With the installation of the instrument landing system (ILS), the airport is available for the corporate aircraft to land in any weather. The convenience of having that capability has resulted in increased sales of jet fuel for the airport and more revenue for the city.
"I'd have to say that the installation of the ILS has been the most significant accomplishment, followed by advanced weather forecasting system and the extension of the east-west runway as the major accomplishments of the airport."
Despite returning to his roots and the joy that will bring him, Ropte said, he will miss Warsaw and the relationships he has established here.
"This is a wonderful area to have lived in for 24 years," he said. "We have great parks and schools, making it a wonderful place to raise kids."
Mayor Enie Wiggins said he appreciates the contributions Ropte's work have brought to the operation of the airport and he will be missed.
"I'd like the thank Lance for all his work over the past 7 or 8 years and I wish him well in his purisuits back in Iowa," Wiggins said.
Ropte will be replaced by Karen Sheetz, who was his predecessor as airport manager, on an interim basis. [[In-content Ad]]