(Updated 5/22)
Former Iowa Lieutenant Governor Joy Corning died this weekend. She was 84. Corning was in her sixth year as a state senator when Terry Branstad picked her as his lieutenant governor running mate in 1990. Corning served eight years in the post. Mary Ellen Miller is executive director of 50-50 in 2020, a group formed to encourage women to run for office. Corning was a founding board member.

“She, I think, was the epitome of civility,” Miller says. Governor Branstad issued a written statement, calling Corning “an outstanding, unflappable leader who treated everyone with the respect and dignity they deserved.” Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds calls Corning a “tremendous mentor and role model.” Miller says Corning was a mentor to many other women considering a run for public office.

“She would always have time, not just Republicans but Democrats as well, to share her experience and offer advice,” Miller says. “She was very open about encouraging women to run and helping them as best she could.” This past March, in spite of failing health, Corning attended a training program for would-be candidates.

“The smile is classic. We always talked about the Joy Smile. She was aptly named, I guess,” Miller says. “Not that she didn’t have her serious side, of course.” Corning ran for governor in 1998, but dropped out of the race before the G-O-P Primary. In the 18 years since she left elected office, Corning helped raise money for a chapel at the state prison for women. She was a Republican moderate who favored abortion rights. In 2010, she co-founded the group “Justice, Not Politics” to counter the campaign to unseat Iowa Supreme Court justices who had legalized same-sex marriage.

Corning was born in Creston and was a 1949 graduate of Bridgewater High School. She earned an education degree from what was then known as the Iowa State Teachers College. She served nine years on the Cedar Falls School Board before being elected to the Iowa Senate. She died Saturday with her three daughters by her side. Corning wrote her own obituary, thanking all who had contributed to and enriched her life.

(Radio Iowa)