Senator Earl G. Bass View All Years

EARL G. BASS

Earl G. Bass was born on March 30, 1915, in Strahan, Iowa, to Zeno and Rena (Gipe) Bass, Jr. He passed away on September 18, 2002, at the age of eighty-seven. He is survived by daughters Pamela Obrecht and husband LaVerne of Malvern and Cindy Brewbaker and husband William of Indianola; stepchildren Carolyn Amengual and husband Michael of Scottsdale, Arizona, Dona Dashner of Shenandoah, and Douglas Dashner and wife Nancy of DeKalb, Illinois; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; five step-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; and sister Anna Rose Coddinton of Lake Beaverton, Oregon.

Bass grew up in Strahan and graduated from Strahan High School. He received his higher education at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and Tarkio College in Missouri. It was at Tarkio that he met Helen Louise Christensen, and they were married in Pittsburg, Kansas, on September 1, 1934. After their college days, the couple joined Bass’s parents in their livestock and farming operation in Strahan. After being blessed with their two daughters, the family moved to Malvern.

Bass was an active member of the Malvern Methodist Church and served in many offices. He was a charter member of the Mills County Extension Council when it was formed in 1955 and was on the first board of the Malvern village. He served on the Malvern School Board before it was reorganized into the Malvern Community School District. Both Bass and his wife helped to organize the Nishnabotna Girl Scout Council and were active members in the Mills County Flying Club. Bass served as chairman for the Mills County and the Malvern planning and zoning committees.

In 1958, Bass entered the grain storage business. He expanded the Earl Bass Elevator from Clark Station to the south edge of Malvern, where he built a large storage facility. He was an active member of the Mills County Historical Society and a strong supporter of the 4-H program.

Bass enjoyed flying his own plane, golfing, and traveling throughout the United States and overseas.

After fifty-nine years of marriage, Helen Bass died on June 11, 1994. On March 18, 1995, Earl married Marjorie Ruth (Donner) Dashner. They had been married for four years when she died on July 24, 1999.

Earl G. Bass was a Mills County Republican. He served in the Senate for three years, from 1970 to 1972, during the second half of the 63rd and 64th General Assemblies.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Earl G. Bass, the State has lost an honored citizen and faithful and useful public servant, and that the Senate by this resolution expresses its appreciation of his service to the State and tenders its sympathy and kindest regards 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 the family of the deceased.

HUBERT HOUSER

JEFF ANGELO

MICHAEL E. GRONSTAL

Committee