Senator Vernon H. Kyhl View All Years

VERNON H. KYHL

MR PRESIDENT: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Vernon H. Kyhl, begs leave to submit the following memorial:

Vernon H. Kyhl was born July 30, 1908 in La Plata, Missouri, the son of Christian C. and Dorthea Holm Kyhl. He moved to Cedar Falls as a boy and was educated in the Cedar Falls public schools and the University of Northern Iowa. He was confirmed in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls at an early age and continued his membership there throughout his lifetime.

On July 27, 1936 Mr. Kyhl was married to Alice Manning. They had three sons and two daughters. Alice preceded him in death by ten years, and on July 12, 1965, he was married to Masile Spaans of Des Moines.

Mr. Kyhl was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 1962 to fill a vacancy and was reelected in 1966, 1970 and 1972. At the time of his death, he was President pro tempore of the Senate, having been elected to fill that office during the Sixty-fourth General Assembly and reelected on the opening day of the Sixty-fifth General Assembly. An extended illness prevented him from serving in the 1973 Session and he passed away on September 17, 1973 at the age of 65.

During his tenure as a State Senator, he served on many standing committees and was chairman of the committee on law enforcement for two sessions. He was a member of the Legislative Council, the Commission on Alcoholism and the Council of State Governments. He was respected by his colleagues for his honesty and integrity and will be remembered as an able, dedicated legislator.

Mr. Kyhl’s distinguished service as a lawmaker culminated a very successful business and political career. He was devoted to Parkersburg, Iowa, where he lived most of his adult life, and took an active part in community affairs. He was on the Parkersburg School Board for twenty-three years, twelve years of which he served as president. He was a member of the Elks Club, past president and charter member of the Parkersburg Rotary Club and the Parkersburg Commercial Club. He also served as the Butler County Republican Chairman.

His business interests were many and varied, beginning with his ownership of the Kyhl Chevrolet Company in 1925. He owned the Far Mech Manufacturing and Sales Company in Parkersburg and was president of the Farm and Home Supply Company in Marshalltown. He also owned and operated a 320-acre farm in Butler County.

Survivors include his wife, Masile; three sons, Curtis of Waterloo, Kenneth of Waukee, and Kevin C. of Parkersburg; two daughters, Connie (Mrs. Jerry Amosson) of Penfield, New York, and Becky (Mrs. Donald Easley) of Cedar Falls; a stepson, Ralph Spaans of Wichita, Kansas; three sisters and fourteen grandchildren.

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-fifth General Assembly of Iowa: That in the passing of the Honorable Vernon H. Kyhl, the State has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the Senate by this resolution would express its appreciation of his services to his community, state and nation and tender its sympathy to the members of his family.

Be It Further Resolved: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to forward an enrolled copy to each member of his family.

CLIFTON C. LAMBORN, Chairman

CLIFF BURROUGHS

JAMES V. GALLAGHER

Committee

The resolution was unanimously adopted.