A. L. Mensing 1896-1973

MENSING, ERNSTING, RODENBECK

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 8/24/2016 at 15:54:42

13 September 1973 - The North Cedar Press

Funeral services for A. L. (Al) Mensing, retired Lowden businessman and Cedar county Representative for 16 years, were held at Zion United Church of Christ, Lowden, Sept. 11. Burial was in the Lowden cemetery.

Mr. Mensing died at a Cedar Rapids hospital Sept. 8. He entered the hospital Sept. 5.

Mensing was first elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1950 and served for 7 terms. He was defeated by LaMar Foster, West Branch, in 1964, a strong Democratic year. Mensing won back the post in 1966 and retired at the end of that term, in 1968.

Albert Louis, the son of Diedrich and Louise Ernsting Mensing, was born on a farm near Lowden, 1896. He dropped out of school at 15 to go to work and, at 19, in 1915 entered the mercantile business. He was involved in several business ventures, selling the Mensing Motor company to his sons in 1946 and the implement business in 1953.

He was married to Elsa Rodenbeck in Lowden in 1919.

He was mayor of Lowden from 1920 to 1928, postmaster from 1928 to 1936, president of the Lowden Community club from 1925 to 1939, Cedar county Republican Central committee chairman from 1942 to 1950 and one of the organizers of the Cedar County Historical society and its first president in 1958 and 1959. He was a director of the American Trust and Savings bank at Lowden.

He took part in practically every civic activity in Lowden and, just before his death, was active in promoting a historical group to preserve the history of Lowden.

A veteran of World War I, he served with the United States Naval Reserve as an aviation machinist's mate, enlisting Aug. 18, 1918. He was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of World War 1. As a member of the Iowa legislature he was active in improving the facilities and services at the Iowa Soldier's home, Marshalltown.

He is survived by his wife, 2 sons, Wilmarth R. and Leon, both of Lowden; 2 grandchildren, a great-grandchild and 3 brothers, Louis, Blue Earth, Minn., and Paul and William, both of Lowden.

John McCormick, political editor of the Davenport Newspapers, in an obituary of Mensing said: "During his legislative career, Mensing served on virtually every House committee and was chosen assistant GOP floor leader in 1959. He took over the leadership role when the late Rep. Clark McNeal, Belmond, became ill during that session.

"He was a pioneer in advocating judicial reform and sponsored the bill that removed District Court judges from the partisan election ballot.

"He also sponsored legislation that authorized designation of one judge in each district to handle juvenile matters.

"Many times the judge thinks the easiest way out is to send the boy to Eldora, and away to Eldora the boy goes,' Mensing once said. 'He should see the case through to its conclusion, even the rehabilitation.'

Mensing became known as Mr. IPERS for his sponsorship of legislation that established the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System in 1953.

"Stocky and bespectacled, Mr. Mensing earned the reputation of being one of the hardest working men in the legislature. He usually was the first to arrive in the House chamber, often showing up at 7 a.m., and was among the last to leave at the close of the day.

"He dropped out of school at age 15 but read widely in literature, history and law.

"Some people think Al's a lawyer," a friend once said.

"Well, he studied lots of law, but I wouldn't say he worships lawyers. He has spoken his mind about a lot of them throughout the years.

"Gifted with a droll sense of humor and an excellent command of English grammar, he remarked after his defeat in 1964, 'I'm a lame duck who is here to sing his swan song. How's that for mixing metaphors?'

"After retirement from the legislature, he was active in the Pioneer Lawmakers society.

"Although an avid student, he also worked hard physically, finding diversion in carpentry and masonry. Al Mensing never was afraid to get his hands dirty on a construction job,' a Lowden merchant said of him."