Iowa official register

54 

IOWA OFFICIAL REGISTER 

 

Chambers, Royd E. – Sheldon (R) 

District 5 

Term: Serving fourth term in House. Profession: High school 

social studies teacher with Sheldon Community School District. 

Education: Graduated from Bridgewater-Fontanelle High School. 

Received B.A. from Buena Vista University. Military Service:  

Former active duty Air Force. Current member of the Iowa Air 

National Guard. Memberships and Activities: Former finance 

chair and vice chair of O’Brien County Republican Central Com-

mittee. Attends Sheldon United Methodist Church. Member of 

Sheldon Christian Retirement Home Board of Directors, O’Brien 

County Farm Bureau, O’Brien County Sportsman Club, O’Brien 

County Pheasants Forever, Osceola County Sportsman Club, 

Osceola County Pheasants Forever, National Rifle Association, 

Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, 

and Sheldon American Legion Post #145. Birth and Residence: 

Born in 1961 in Greenfield. Resides in Sheldon. Family Mem-

bers: Wife Barb; one son and one daughter. 

 

 

Cohoon, Dennis M. – Burlington (D) 

District 88 

Term: Serving twelfth term in House.  Profession: Teacher.  

Education: Graduated from Burlington High School. Received 

A.A. from Southeastern Community College, B.A. from Iowa 

Wesleyan College, and graduate courses in special education at the 

University of Iowa.  Military Service: Served six years in Army 

National Guard.  Memberships and Activities: Served on the 

Education Commission of States. Member of First Chris-

tian Church,  Burlington  Education  Association, Geode Education 

Association, Iowa State Education Association, and Des Moines 

County Democratic Central Committee.  Birth and  Residence: 

Born in 1953 in Burlington. Raised and resides in Burlington.  

Family Members: Wife Sue; four stepchildren.

 

 

 

 

 

Cownie, Peter – West Des Moines (R) 

District 60 

Term:  Serving first term in House.   Profession:  President of 

Junior Achievement of Central Iowa.   Education:  Attended 

West Des Moines Dowling High School. Received B.A. in Ameri-

can government at the University of Virginia and master’s in pub-

lic administration with emphasis in public policy at Drake Univer-

sity.   Memberships and Activities:  Serves on the West Des 

Moines Community Enrichment Foundation, Greater Dallas 

County Development Alliance, West Des Moines Human Services 

Board, and Iowa Bull Moose Club. A member of Sacred Heart 

Catholic Church in West Des Moines.   Birth and Residence:  

Born in 1980 in Des Moines. Raised in Des Moines and resides in 

West Des Moines.  Family Members:  Wife Mary.   

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55 

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 

 

De Boef, Betty R. – What Cheer (R) 

District 76 

Term: Serving fifth term in House.  Profession: Partner in fam-

ily farm operation and wood-grinding business.  Education: 

Graduated from Pella Christian High School and attended Dordt 

College.  Memberships and Activities: Former member of the 

executive committee for Mahaska County Republican Central 

Committee. Served on executive council for Oskaloosa Christian 

Women’s Club and is a member of the What Cheer Lions Club. 

Active in Oskaloosa Church of the Nazarene.  Birth and Resi-

dence: Born in 1951 in Jasper County. Resides in rural What 

Cheer.  Family Members: Husband Harold; two sons, two daugh-

ters, and 12 grandchildren.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deyoe, Dave – Nevada (R) 

District 10 

Term: Serving second term in House.   Profession:  Farmer.   

Education: Graduated from Nevada High School. Received B.S. 

in animal science, Iowa State University.   Memberships and 

Activities: Member of Nevada Rotary Club, Nevada School Foun-

dation, Story County Farm Bureau (past president and voting dele-

gate), Story County Pork Producers (past president), former chair 

Story County Republican Central Committee, and United Method-

ist Church, Nevada.   Birth and Residence: Born in 1960 in Man-

hattan, Kansas. Resides in Nevada.   Family Members: Wife Deb-

orah; one daughter and one son.    

 

 

 

 

 

Dolecheck, Cecil – Mount Ayr (R) 

District 96 

Term: Serving seventh term in House.  Profession: Farmer.  

Education: Graduate of Mount Ayr Community High School. 

Attended Iowa State University.  Memberships and Activities: 

Past president of Ringgold County Farm Bureau, past president of 

Afton Farmers Co-op Board, and former county fair livestock su-

perintendent. Member of Ellston United Methodist Church, Iowa 

Pork Producers Association, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, and 

Sheriff’s Posse. Served four years on the county extension council.  

Birth and Residence: Born in 1951 in Mount Ayr. Resides in 

Mount Ayr.  Family Members: Wife Patti; one stepson, one step-

daughter, and 10 grandchildren. 

 

 

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