William W. Dieleman Collection, 1969-1994 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

By Ed Start, March 2000

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Collection Overview

Title: William W. Dieleman Collection, 1969-1994

ID: COLL/368

Primary Creator: Dieleman, William W. (1931-)

Extent: 10.15 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Abstract

Details the political career of Dieleman including his tenure in the Iowa House,1974-1982, and Iowa Senate, 1982-1994. The collection includes: correspondence, newsletters to constituents, memorabilia from his political career, particularly the campaigns and elections, and his office files on various topics that arose during his political career. One issue that took up much of his time and energy was riverboat gambling. In this area he also was appointed to serve as chairman of the committee to write a statement on gambling for the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Compulsory school attendance and abortion also seem to have taken up a significant amount of his legislative time.

Biographical Note

William W. Dieleman, (b. in Oskaloosa, Iowa, in 1931) served in the Iowa legislature for twenty years. After serving five years as a Pella city councilman he was elected to the Iowa State House of Representatives in 1974. After serving four terms in the House he moved to the Senate in 1982 where he served three four-year terms until he retired in 1994.

Because the Iowa legislature only runs from January through May, he had to supplement this part-time salary. He worked as an insurance underwriter and he also owned a small newspaper in Sully, Iowa, entitled, The Diamond Trail News.

As a conservative Democrat, he occupied key positions in the legislature. He was chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in the Iowa Senate. He also headed the Committee on Natural Resources. In addition, he was a member of four other committees: Education, State Government, Transportation, and the Administration Appropriations Subcommittee, of which he was vice-chairman.

Dieleman and his wife Emily Langstraat together raised three children: Wendell, Cyndi (Dennis DeYoung), and Kristen (Gandrow). Before attending Calvin College he served in the military during the Korean conflict. After receiving his AB degree in political science from Calvin College in 1959 he taught history and political science for fifteen years-four years at Calvin Christian School in South Holland, Illinois, and eleven years at Pella Christian High School. During these years he was able to do graduate work at the University of Iowa, receiving his MA in political science in 1966. He did further post- graduate work at the University of South Dakota.

Dieleman is retired and is currently living in Bella Vista, Arkansas.

Administrative Information

Repository: Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Alternate Extent Statement: 20 Boxes

Acquisition Source: William W. Dieleman

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Personal File, 1970-1994],
[Series 2: Correspondence, 1977-1994],
[Series 3: Dieleman's Dateline, 1990-1994],
[Series 4: Elections, 1969-1994],
[Series 5: Subject Files, 1980-1994],
[Series 6: Realia],
[Series 7: Photographs],
[All]

Series 7: Photographs

Box 20

Item 1: Dairy Farm (2) --- 1978
Item 2: Mrs. Dieleman and daughter --- 1978
Item 3: Senior Citizen Housing --- 1977
Item 4: Portrait (2) --- 1978
Item 5: Blood Pressure Screening --- 1991
Item 6: Continental Telephone Luncheon --- 1981
Item 7: Chuck Grassley --- 1993