Our Mission
The Mission of the Oceana County Department of Veterans’ Affairs is to remember the admonition of General George Washington to the Continental Congress, “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” With due regard, the Department will care for our county veterans, widows, and orphans by vigorously and contentiously pursuing all avenues of veteran’s benefits and community services that provide just compensation and or pension that provides relief of the burdens of war and service to this nation and to the people of Oceana County. We will represent the veteran, widow, or orphan before all tribunals and government agencies with professionalism, dedication, and due care inculcating a sense of security and trust on the part of the veteran.
Our Vision
All Oceana County veterans, their widows, and orphans will not suffer economic destitution, nor shall the veterans go medically unattended as a result of their or their husband’s military service. All veterans are fully represented and made whole as practicable and as possible within the means of the Department.
Appointments
If you would like to make an appointment, please call the office at (231) 873-6834.
Veterans Forms
Various veterans forms are available through the Oceana County Clerk’s office including the DD214 (Report of Separation) and Veterans Burial Claim forms. Learn More
Find Oceana County Veterans Affairs on Facebook
Meetings
Meeting Minutes
Contact Veterans Affairs
StaffJodi Slinkard Veteran Service Officer
Danielle Shilton Administrative Assistant
Main Phone: (231) 873-6834
Address
Veterans Affairs
844 S. Griswold Street, Suite 100
Hart, MI 49420
Staff & Committee Members
-
Jodi Slinkard, Verteran Service Officer
Email: jslinkard@oceana.mi.usJodi is a life-long resident of Oceana County and graduate of Hesperia High School. She served 9 years in the Air Force as a medic including 1 deployment during the Gulf War and 4 humanitarian missions to Saudi Arabia. Since her honorable discharge, Jodi has devoted her professional life to the service of others in the medical and social work fields.
Jodi has previously served as VSO for Newaygo County and Service Officer (SO) for the Hesperia American Legion. Jodi is a member of both the Newaygo and Hart VFW and currently serves on the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Board of Trustees where she has been active for over 5 years.
-
Danielle "Dani" Shilton, Administrative Assistant
Email: dshilton@oceana.mi.usDani has recently relocated to Oceana County, having spent summers vacationing in the area while growing up. Originally from the Grand Ledge area, Dani married her high school sweetheart and spent 24 years as a military wife following her husband’s tours of duty across the country and the world. Dani’s husband Randall, a FCSC (SW) (ret.) recently separated from the Navy, and they are excited to return to Oceana County which they consider to be “home.” Serving in the Department of Veterans Affairs office is an honor to Dani who describes her new role as “giving back to a community that gave so much to me, you can separate from the military, but you can never separate from your military family.”
-
Dr. Derik Van Baale, Committee Chairperson / Personnel Chair
Email: dvanbaale@oceana.mi.usDr. Derik Van Baale is currently working as a Suicide Prevention Coordinator for the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. He has worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs for the past 18 years, serving mainly as a clinical therapist working with Veteran who have PTSD. Dr. Van Baale also owns a private practice. Dr. Van Baale enlisted into the military in 1995 earning the rank of Sergeant. He went through ROTC and became a commissioned officer in 2000. Derik was commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer and went on active duty. He was deployed to Iraq during the invasion in 2003, earning the Combat Action Badge and the Bronze Star. After a 8 year break in service, Dr. Van Baale decided to enter the Michigan Army National Guard as a Behavior Health Officer. Dr. Van Baale is currently a Major and is the State Behavioral Health Officer for Michigan providing clinical and policy guidance for the State Surgeon and the Adjutant General for the State of Michigan. Dr. Van Baale earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa and has earned a Master’s of Public of Administration from Drake University and a Master’s of Social Work from Grand Valley State University. Dr. Van Baale earned his Ph.D. from Western Michigan University in Public Administration. Derik is married to Sarah and they have six children. He is involved in church and his children’s sports activities.
-
Paul Dees, Committee Secretary / Vice Chairperson
Email: pdees@oceana.mi.usPaul served in the Marine Corps. For 20 years before retiring. Currently Paul serves as reserve Deputy with the Oceana County Sherriff’s Department. Paul and his wife Heather have 3 children and reside in Oceana County.
-
Gina Mead, Committee Community Relations Chair
Email: gmead@oceana.mi.usGina was in the Navy for 6 years including a year and half in Iceland. Oceana County Native who since returning from service has immersed herself in the committee buy serving in the honor guard association, NAF board, Miss Veteran second runner up 2014. Member of Shelby American Legion where she serves various roles and is committed to veteran outreach in our county and beyond.
-
Tracy Blamer, Committee Finance / Policy and Procedures Chair
Email: tblamer@oceana.mi.usTracy Blamer is a boomerang resident of Oceana County who joined the armed forces directly after graduating from Hesperia High School. While in the military, Tracy was deployed twice during Operation Iraqi Freedom serving onboard the USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75) in the Supply Corps. Having found her passion for Supply Chain early on, Tracy went on to work in the defense industry across the country for over a decade after her honorable discharge from the Navy before returning to Oceana County in 2016.
-
