Representative Delwyn D. Stromer View All Years

DELWYN D. STROMER

Mr. Speaker: Your committee, appointed to prepare a suitable resolution commemorating the life, character, and public service of the late Honorable Delwyn D. Stromer begs to submit the following Memorial:

Delwyn D. Stromer was born April 22, 1930 in Garner to Aaron and Ruby (Goll) Stromer. He graduated from Garner High School. He married Harriet June Ostendorf in 1950. They farmed southwest of Garner. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict from 1953-1955. He returned to Garner and continued farming.

In 1966, he began 23 years of service to the State of Iowa as a member of the General Assembly serving as assistant majority floor leader in the Sixty-fifth General Assembly, assistant minority floor leader in the sixty-sixth and sixty-seventh General Assemblies, Speaker Pro Tempore in the Sixty-eighth General Assembly, Speaker of the House in the Sixty-ninth General Assembly, and minority leader in the Seventieth, Seventy-first, Seventy-second, and Seventy-third General Assemblies. He was well known for his leadership in education, having served as the education committee chair for much of his tenure.

In 1989, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri where he served as General Services Administrator during the Bush Administration. In 1993, he moved to West Des Moines where he served with U.S. Senator Charles Grassley’s staff as his agriculture advisor until his retirement in 1999.

Mr. Stromer served as a Deacon, and taught Sunday school at the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner. He was a member of the American Legion, Farm Bureau, Executive Committee of National Conference of State Legislatures 1977-1980, national chair of Advance Legislative Program Seminar, 1981-1984 and Garner Lions Club.

A Republican, Mr. Stromer was a member of the Sixty-second, Sixty-third, Sixty-fifth, Sixty-sixth, Sixty-seventh, Sixty-seventh Extra, Sixty-eighth, Sixty-ninth, Sixty-ninth Extra, Sixty-ninth Second Extra, Seventieth, Seventy-first, Seventy-second, Seventy-second Extra, Seventy-second Second Extra, and the first half of the Seventy-third General Assemblies.

Delwyn D. Stromer died September 7, 2003 at the age of 73. He is survived by his wife, Harriet; mother Ruby Stromer of Garner; three children, Linda Upmeyer (Doug) of Garner, Pam Birkenholz (Robert) of Columbus, Ohio, and David Stromer (Kimberly) of Garner; twelve grandchildren; two great-grandsons; two sisters, Vivian Bovenmyer of Garner and Marian DeWitt of Garner; and a sister-in-law, Thelma Stromer Gates of Lake Tahoe, Nevada; and many nieces and nephews.

Now Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Eightieth General Assembly of Iowa, That in the passing of the Honorable Delwyn D. Stromer, the State has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the House by this Resolution would express its appreciation of his service.

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

LINDA L. UPMEYER

HENRY V. RAYHONS

GEORGE S. EICHHORN

Committee