DYKHOUSE, Jans T. 1889-1981

DYKHOUSE, VAN HOVE, GETTING

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 7/23/2008 at 22:27:24

(Lyon County Reporter - May 27, 1981)

Jans T. Dykhouse, age 91, of Rock Rapids, Lyon county, Iowa, died at Merrill Pioneer Community hospital here on Sunday, May 24, 1981. For more than a quarter of a century he was one of Iowa's best known political leaders and a highly effective member of the Iowa General Assembly.

Funeral services were held this morning, Wednesday, May 27, 1981, at the United Methodist church. Interment was in Riverview cemetery under the direction of Jongewaard-Roste Funeral Home.

Dykhouse was born on December 9, 1889, in Hastings, Nebraska, the son of John and Gertje Van Hove Dykhouse. He grew up in the Rock Rapids area where his parents farmed for many years, attending school here and attending a prep school at Dubuque. He graduated from Dubuque University.

On October 25, 1917 he was married to Dora Getting of Little ROck. They came to Rock Rapids where he was an officer of Lyon County National Bank until the 1930's. He was in the insurnace and real estate business here until recent years.

He was elected to four years in the House of Representatives. and then was elected and re-elected to the Iowa Senate for 24 years. He was on most of the important committees which shaped the course of Iowa legislation during those years.

He was a member of the Masonic bodies and served as worshipful master of Border Lodge. He was a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star. He was also a member of the United Methodist Church. Dykhouse was past president of Kiwanis club, a charter member of the Rock River Golf and Country Club and of the Rock Rapids Gun Club.

Survivors include one son, Emerson, Rock Rapids; two daughters, Mrs. Edward (Eleanor) Ladd, Rock Rapids, and Dorothy Dykhouse, Sioux City; four grandchidlren; two brothers, Ted, of Spencer, Iowa, and Edward of Sioux City, Iowa; and one sister, Mrs. Henry (Tena) Peters, of Little Rock.