Iowa official register

Thede, Phyllis – Bettendorf (D) 

District 81 

Term:  Serving first term in House. Profession:  Secretary in 

media center at North High School.  Education:  Attended South-

western Community College and Westmar College.  Memberships 

and Activities:  Serves as second vice chair for the Iowa Democ-

ratic Party. Former para educator with the Davenport Community 

Schools. Served as union president in school district, vice president 

and contract negotiator and grievance chair. Served on many com-

mittees with the district including the Superintendent Search Com-

mittee. Also served on the state Minority Action Committee for 10 

years. Acted as campaign manager for two successful candidates 

for school board. Organized rallies for Howard Dean and Kerry/

Edwards campaign.  Birth and Residence:  Born in 1954 in Chi-

cago, Illinois. Raised in Creston and resides in Bettendorf. Family 

Members:  Husband Dave; three daughters.   

 

 

 

Thomas, Roger – Elkader (D) 

District 24 

Term: Serving sixth term in House.  Profession: Economic De-

velopment/Main Street Director, farmer, and paramedic.  Educa-

tion: Graduated from Valley Community High School. Received 

B.S. in public administration from Upper Iowa University.  Military 

Service: Served in the U.S. Air Force.  Memberships and Activi-

ties: Trustee for Northeast Iowa Community College, Foundation 

board member NICC, Central Ambulance Service. Served as presi-

dent of the Northeast Iowa Emergency Medical Council, Clayton 

County Farm Bureau board member, 4-H leader, Extension Council 

member and fire fighter. Member of the advisory board for the Na-

tional Ag Safety Center and Farm Bureau.  Birth and Residence: 

Born in 1950 in Oelwein. Resides in Elkader.  Family Members: 

Wife Rosemary; two sons, one daughter, and four grandchildren.  

 

 

 

Tjepkes, David A. – Gowrie (R) 

District 50 

Term: Serving fourth term in House. Profession: Mayor of Gow-

rie and retired state trooper.  Education: Attended the Iowa Law 

Enforcement Academy.  Memberships and Activities: Member of 

the Gowrie Kiwanis, Gowrie Historical Society, Webster County 

Farm Bureau, Gowrie Development Commission, Webster County 

Historical Society, Iowa State Patrol Supervisors Association, and 

Security Savings Bank advisory board. Member of United Methodist 

Church.  Birth and  Residence: Born in 1944 and raised in Lyon 

County. Resides in Gowrie.  Family Members: Wife Judi; three 

sons and five grandchildren.   

 

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IOWA OFFICIAL REGISTER 

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Tymeson, Jodi S. – Winterset (R) 

District 73 

Term: Serving fifth term in House.  Profession: Licensed 

teacher and retired Army National Guard brigadier general.  Educa-

tion: Graduated from Ogden High School. Received B.A. from the 

University of Northern Iowa and M.P.A. from Drake University. 

Graduate of Army War College, National Security Fellowship, Har-

vard University.  Military Service: Iowa National Guard, 33 years.  

Memberships and Activities: Member of Army War College 

Alumni Association, Daughters of the American Revolution, Iowa 

National Guard Officers Association, Madison County Farm Bu-

reau, Leadership Iowa Alumni Association, Iowa Jobs for Amer-

ica’s Graduates Board of Directors, and Iowa Empowerment Board. 

Honorary member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.  

Birth and Residence: Born in 1955 in Boone. Resides in Winter-

set.  Family Members: Husband John; two daughters.  

 

 

Upmeyer, Linda (Stromer) – Garner (R) 

District 12 

Term: Serving fourth term in House.   Profession: Nurse Practi-

tioner (ARNP-c).  Education: Received A.D.N. in nursing from 

North Iowa Area Community College, B.S.N. from the University 

of Iowa, and M.S.N. nurse practitioner from Drake University.  

Memberships and Activities: Past member of Hancock County 

Republican Central Committee. Member of Zion Evangelical and 

Reformed Church, Farm Bureau, American Academy of Nurse 

Practitioners, Iowa Society of Nurse Practitioners, Sigma Theta Tau 

International Nursing Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Na-

tional Leadership Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa. Former trustee 

for North Iowa Area Community College and former board member 

of both the national and Iowa Association of Community College 

Trustees.  Served on American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Board of Directors, ALEC 

Public Sector Chair of Health and Human Services Task Force, Midwestern Legislative Confer-

ence Executive Committee, Toll Fellow, 2006, and Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership 

Development (BILLD), 2004. Birth and Residence: Born in 1952 in Garner. Resides on a farm 

near Garner.  Family Members: Husband Doug; four sons, one daughter, and two grandsons. 

 

 

Van Engelenhoven, James L. – Pella (R) 

District 71 

Term: Serving sixth term in House.  Profession: Farmer.  Edu-

cation: Graduated from Oskaloosa High School.  Military Service: 

Iowa Air National Guard.  Memberships and Activities: Former 

Mahaska County supervisor. 4-H board and church board. Member 

of Farm Bureau, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean 

Association, and Marion County Pheasants Forever.  Birth and 

Residence: Born in 1943 in Oskaloosa. Resides near Pella.  Family 

Members: Wife Carol; one son.  

 

 

79 

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 

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