POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Michael E. Sproule, Michael G. Fraizer
and James A. Smallenberger, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-
fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign a registration
statement on Form S-1 relating to the registration of (i) Quarterly Income
Preferred Securities by AmerUs Capital I, an affiliate of AmerUs Life Holdings,
Inc. (ii) Junior Subordinated Debentures by AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc., and
(iii) a Guarantee of AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc. with respect to the Quarterly
Income Preferred Securities of AmerUs Capital I and any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to such registration statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any documents
relating to the qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities
laws of such states, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes he might or could do in person, ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has signed his name this
18th day of September, 1996.
/s/ John R. Albers
------------------------------
John R. Albers
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Michael E. Sproule, Michael G. Fraizer
and James A. Smallenberger, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-
fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign a registration
statement on Form S-1 relating to the registration of (i) Quarterly Income
Preferred Securities by AmerUs Capital I, an affiliate of AmerUs Life Holdings,
Inc. (ii) Junior Subordinated Debentures by AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc., and
(iii) a Guarantee of AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc. with respect to the Quarterly
Income Preferred Securities of AmerUs Capital I and any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to such registration statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any documents
relating to the qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities
laws of such states, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes he might or could do in person, ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has signed his name this
18th day of September, 1996.
/s/ Roger K. Brooks
------------------------------
Roger K. Brooks
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Michael E. Sproule, Michael G. Fraizer
and James A. Smallenberger, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-
fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign a registration
statement on Form S-1 relating to the registration of (i) Quarterly Income
Preferred Securities by AmerUs Capital I, an affiliate of AmerUs Life Holdings,
Inc. (ii) Junior Subordinated Debentures by AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc., and
(iii) a Guarantee of AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc. with respect to the Quarterly
Income Preferred Securities of AmerUs Capital I and any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to such registration statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any documents
relating to the qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities
laws of such states, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes he might or could do in person, ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has signed his name this
18th day of September, 1996.
/s/ Malcolm Candlish
------------------------------
Malcolm Candlish
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Michael E. Sproule, Michael G. Fraizer
and James A. Smallenberger, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-
fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign a registration
statement on Form S-1 relating to the registration of (i) Quarterly Income
Preferred Securities by AmerUs Capital I, an affiliate of AmerUs Life Holdings,
Inc. (ii) Junior Subordinated Debentures by AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc., and
(iii) a Guarantee of AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc. with respect to the Quarterly
Income Preferred Securities of AmerUs Capital I and any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to such registration statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any documents
relating to the qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities
laws of such states, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes he might or could do in person, ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has signed his name this
18th day of September, 1996.
/s/ D T Doan
------------------------------
D T Doan
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Michael E. Sproule, Michael G. Fraizer
and James A. Smallenberger, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-
fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign a registration
statement on Form S-1 relating to the registration of (i) Quarterly Income
Preferred Securities by AmerUs Capital I, an affiliate of AmerUs Life Holdings,
Inc. (ii) Junior Subordinated Debentures by AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc., and
(iii) a Guarantee of AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc. with respect to the Quarterly
Income Preferred Securities of AmerUs Capital I and any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to such registration statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any documents
relating to the qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities
laws of such states, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes he might or could do in person, ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has signed his name this
18th day of September, 1996.
/s/ Thomas F. Gaffney
------------------------------
Thomas F. Gaffney
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Michael E. Sproule, Michael G. Fraizer
and James A. Smallenberger, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-
fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign a registration
statement on Form S-1 relating to the registration of (i) Quarterly Income
Preferred Securities by AmerUs Capital I, an affiliate of AmerUs Life Holdings,
Inc. (ii) Junior Subordinated Debentures by AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc., and
(iii) a Guarantee of AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc. with respect to the Quarterly
Income Preferred Securities of AmerUs Capital I and any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to such registration statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any documents
relating to the qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities
laws of such states, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes he might or could do in person, ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has signed his name this
18th day of September, 1996.
/s/ Sam C. Kalainov
------------------------------
Sam C. Kalainov
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Michael E. Sproule, Michael G. Fraizer
and James A. Smallenberger, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-
fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign a registration
statement on Form S-1 relating to the registration of (i) Quarterly Income
Preferred Securities by AmerUs Capital I, an affiliate of AmerUs Life Holdings,
Inc. (ii) Junior Subordinated Debentures by AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc., and
(iii) a Guarantee of AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc. with respect to the Quarterly
Income Preferred Securities of AmerUs Capital I and any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to such registration statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any documents
relating to the qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities
laws of such states, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes he might or could do in person, ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has signed his name this
18th day of September, 1996.
/s/ John W. Norris, Jr.
------------------------------
John W. Norris, Jr.
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Michael E. Sproule, Michael G. Fraizer
and James A. Smallenberger, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-
fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign a registration
statement on Form S-1 relating to the registration of (i) Quarterly Income
Preferred Securities by AmerUs Capital I, an affiliate of AmerUs Life Holdings,
Inc. (ii) Junior Subordinated Debentures by AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc., and
(iii) a Guarantee of AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc. with respect to the Quarterly
Income Preferred Securities of AmerUs Capital I and any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to such registration statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any documents
relating to the qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities
laws of such states, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes he might or could do in person, ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has signed his name this
18th day of September, 1996.
/s/ Jack C. Pester
------------------------------
Jack C. Pester
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Michael E. Sproule, Michael G. Fraizer
and James A. Smallenberger, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-
fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign a registration
statement on Form S-1 relating to the registration of (i) Quarterly Income
Preferred Securities by AmerUs Capital I, an affiliate of AmerUs Life Holdings,
Inc. (ii) Junior Subordinated Debentures by AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc., and
(iii) a Guarantee of AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc. with respect to the Quarterly
Income Preferred Securities of AmerUs Capital I and any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to such registration statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any documents
relating to the qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities
laws of such states, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes he might or could do in person, ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has signed his name this
18th day of September, 1996.
/s/ John A. Wing
------------------------------
John A. Wing
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Michael G. Fraizer and James A.
Smallenberger, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign a registration
statement on Form S-1 relating to the registration of (i) Quarterly Income
Preferred Securities by AmerUs Capital I, an affiliate of AmerUs Life Holdings,
Inc. (ii) Junior Subordinated Debentures by AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc., and
(iii) a Guarantee of AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc. with respect to the Quarterly
Income Preferred Securities of AmerUs Capital I and any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to such registration statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any documents
relating to the qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities
laws of such states, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes he might or could do in person, ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has signed his name this
18th day of September, 1996.
/s/ Michael E. Sproule
------------------------------
Michael E. Sproule
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Michael E. Sproule and James A.
Smallenberger, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign a registration
statement on Form S-1 relating to the registration of (i) Quarterly Income
Preferred Securities by AmerUs Capital I, an affiliate of AmerUs Life Holdings,
Inc. (ii) Junior Subordinated Debentures by AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc., and
(iii) a Guarantee of AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc. with respect to the Quarterly
Income Preferred Securities of AmerUs Capital I and any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to such registration statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any documents
relating to the qualification or registration under state Blue Sky or securities
laws of such states, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes he might or could do in person, ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has signed his name this
18th day of September, 1996.
/s/ Michael G. Fraizer
------------------------------
Michael G. Fraizer