Dave DePue grew up working on the family dairy farm. After graduating from high school, He served in the US Navy aboard aircraft carriers Tarawa, Independence, and Kitty Hawk. This experience resulted in a passion for airplanes. He graduated from Northrop Tech and ended up at Lockheed Aircraft in California. Dave was an experimental flight line technician, testing the SR71 “Blackbird” at Lockheed’s “Skunk Works” facility through the end of the production phase. He and his wife Joyce were married in Burbank in 1965. Dave later worked for United Airlines at Los Angeles International Airport before leaving to finish college on the GI Bill.

Dave earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education at Buffalo State College in western NY, then taught in a Columbus Ohio area High School. Many of his successful students were recognized in local media and Dave was credited for impacting their lives. He was offered an opportunity to teach at The Ohio State University where he earned a Ph.D. with an emphasis in Curriculum & Instruction. Dr. DePue served as a professor and administrator at the University of Georgia, West Virginia University, and the University of Illinois. Dave transitioned to Kansas where he served as Executive Director of a State Board for Vocational-Technical Education and later as Director of the State Approving Agency for veterans’ affairs. He took early retirement in 2003 and returned to teaching & administration at Washburn University in Topeka. Dave retired from Washburn University in 2008 to lead God’s ministry to Kansas government leaders.

Joyce and Dave DePue both turned their lives over to Jesus in 1984. They have been in leadership in several ministries. Joyce has served many years as a small group leader in Bible Study Fellowship. God set Dave up to eventually lead Capitol Commission in Kansas. He served in the Statehouse as a volunteer Chaplain for 20 years; coordinating the weekly Legislator’s Prayer Breakfast. Dave is past President and current Secretary of Topeka Fellowship, the group that plans the annual Kansas State Prayer Breakfast. He is also past President of Topeka Youth for Christ; serving on their Board for 20 years. Dave’s peers elected him Chairman of the Washburn University Faculty & Staff Christian Fellowship. He also served several years on the board of The Greater Topeka Association of Evangelicals, coordinating city-wide ministry activities. Dave has served many years as Sunday School Superintendent at his church and is a licensed minister.

God has blessed the ministry in the Kansas Capitol over the past dozen years. During one Legislative session, Dave taught through the Book of Daniel. At sessions end, leadership honored him with the Daniel Award, for modeling Godly leadership in government. Last year, Dave had an opportunity to pray with President Trump, encouraging him from Ecclesiastes 2:26.

The DePues have three married children: Paula, Brandon, & Tamara; and six grandchildren. Joyce is in leadership at Bible Study Fellowship and worked much of her career as a cook in a large daycare. Joyce often bakes treats for Capitol Bible studies and meetings.