STROMER, Delwyn D. (1930-2003)

STROMER, GOLL, OSTENDORF, UPMEYER, BIRKENHOLZ, WADE, DOBLE, KATTER, BOVENMYER, DEWITT, GATES

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society
Date: 9/25/2021 at 00:15:13

Delwyn D. Stromer 1930-2003

Former state legislator and Hancock County native, Delwyn D. Stromer of West Des Moines, died Sunday, September 7, 2003, at the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines of complications from a cardiovascular problem. He was 73.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 12, at the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner with the Rev. Darrell Weber officiating. Music will be provided by organist, Margaret Jass and pianist, Mary Etherington. Special music will be provided by a men's quartet of Perry Schaeffer, Kenneth Schaeffer, Wendell Davison and Dan Brozik. Ushers will be Gary Steinke, Calvin "Johnny" Goll, Dean Goll, Willis Davison and Byron Stromer.

Casket bearers will be Chad Upmeyer, Matthew Upmeyer, Blake Upmeyer, Tyler Upmeyer, Jamie Stromer, Todd Birkenholz, Reed Birkenholz and Lucas Stromer. Burial will be in the Concord Township Cemetery, Garner with military rites by the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday at the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner and will continue one hour prior to services at the church. The Cataldo Funeral Home in Garner is in charge of the arrangements.

Delwyn Dean Stromer, the son of Aaron Arthur and Ruby Evelyn (Goll) Stromer, was born April 22, 1930 on a farm southwest of Garner. He attended rural school in Liberty Township until the eighth grade and graduated from the Garner High School in 1947. After high school he helped his father on the farm.

On August 26, 1950, he married Harriet June Ostendorf at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Meservey. They made their home on a farm southwest of Garner where he farmed. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict from 1953 to 1955. Following his honorable discharge he returned to Garner and continued farming.

In 1966, Delwyn began 23 years of service to the State of Iowa as a member of the General Assembly, including service as the Speaker of the House of Representatives during the 69th General Assembly. During that time he was well known for his education leadership, having served as the education committee chair for much of his tenure.

In 1989, Delwyn and Harriet moved to Kansas City, Missouri where he served as the General Services Administrator during the Bush Administration. In 1993, they moved to West Des Moines where he served with Sen. Charles Grassley's staff as his agriculture advisor, until his retirement in 1999. Delwyn and Harriet spent the past three winters in Weslaco, Texas.

He enjoyed reading, walking, camping and traveling. Music was a big part of his life and in his younger years he enjoyed playing tuba in the Old Timers Band in Garner as well as playing in Ray's Accordion Band. He was a member of the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner where he served as a Deacon, taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. He was active in Farm Bureau and was a past member of the Garner Lions Club.

His political memberships and positions included the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures, 1977-1980, national chair of Advanced Legislative Program Seminar, 1981-1984, assistant majority floor leader in the 65th General Assembly and assistant minority floor leader in the 66th and 67th General Assemblies, Speaker pro-tempore in the 68th General Assembly, Speaker of the House during the 69th General Assembly, and minority leader for the 70th, 71st, 72nd and 73rd General Assemblies.

He is survived by his wife, Harriet, of West Des Moines; his mother, Ruby Stromer of Garner; daughter, Linda Upmeyer and husband, Doug of Garner and their five children, Sara of Columbia, Missouri, Chad of Garner, Matt and wife, Erica of Ankeny and Blake and Tyler of Garner; daughter, Pamela Birkenholz and husband, Robert of Columbus, Ohio and their two sons, Todd and his fiancee, Robin Wade of St. Louis, Missouri and Reed of Columbia, Missouri; son, David Stromer and wife, Kimberly of Garner and their three children, Gretchen, Emma and Lucas of Garner; a daughter-in-law, Michelle Doble and husband,Joel of Garner and their children, Jamie Stromer of Britt, Nicole Katter and husband, Sam of Garner and Misty Doble of Tempe, Arizona; two great grandsons, Tyson and Josh Stromer of Britt.

Also surviving are two sisters, Vivian Bovenmyer and husband, Dwight of Garner and Marian DeWitt and husband, Allan of Garner; a sister-in-law, Thelma Stromer Gates and husband, Robert of Lake Tahoe, Nevada; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Randall Dean Stromer in 1973; his father, Aaron in 1988; and a brother, Norman in 1981.

©The Garner Leader & Signal, 10 Sep 2003, page 6, column 1