Argus Leader
Show boosts giveaways
Host who bounced back from low point wants to help others

Dec. 11, 2011

Written by
Beth Wischmeyer

Jerry Dahmen talks about donating the proceeds from his CDs and book sales as well as speaking engagements to the weekly Faith Temple food giveaway. “I really wanted to do something ... to help them out,” Dahmen says. / Elisha Page / Argus Leader

Jerry Dahmen has heard a lot of inspirational stories during the past 35 years.

Now the news director for KXRB Radio in Sioux Falls, Dahmen started the “I Love Life” radio series more than 35 years ago, recording hundreds of inspirational stories about those who had overcome adversity.

But at a time in Dahmen’s life, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to overcome the adversity in his life.

Dahmen grew up in Sioux Falls and worked at KISD Radio through the ’60s and early ’70s, then headed to Nashville in 1985, working as the news director for the Grand Ole Opry’s WSM Radio for 17 years.

Nearly 10 years ago, his world changed.

“They (radio station) went through a lot of changes, and I lost my job, to be honest with you,” he said. “They just came in and cut all the budgets. I really hit rock bottom.”

Around the same time, Dahmen’s wife divorced him after 23 years of marriage, and he was hospitalized for a heart condition.

He said he felt like he had nothing to live for.

“Once in the hospital, and it’s difficult to say this, I didn’t see any future for Jerry,” he said. “I didn’t have a job, I didn’t have my family and I had health problems. I decided when I got out of the hospital, I was going to get a gun, which I did on Christmas Eve nine years ago, and I took it home when the intent of using it.”

But as he got the gun out that night, he heard a friend of his — who is also a pastor — on the radio, with a message that struck a chord with him.

“He said there’s someone out there that needs to hear this message that God has a purpose for you in your life, that God has a plan for you,” he said. “I put the gun down and went down to the local mission where he was and I shared with him what I was going through (…) and he shared with me the six spiritual principals for successful living.”

Over the years, Dahmen started giving presentations on the principals and discovered something surprising.

“I found out that if you’re honest with someone and telling them what you’ve been through, people can relate to individuals going through adversity, but the key is, what does it take to move forward, beyond that?” he said.