Bert Bandstra

Who was Bert Bandstra?

Bert Andrew Bandstra served one term as a Democratic U.S. Representative from south central Iowa, winning election in 1964 but losing elections in 1966 and 1968.

Born in Monroe County, Iowa, Bandstra attended New Sharon High School. He served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1945, then returned to Iowa. He graduated in 1950 from Central College in Pella, Iowa, then received a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1953. Returning to Iowa for private practice, he served as County Attorney for Marion County, Iowa from 1955 to 1959. He then served on the staff of Democratic United States Representative Neal Edward Smith of Iowa from 1959 to 1964.

In 1964, as part of a Democratic landslide, Bandstra was elected to represent Iowa's 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. defeating incumbent Republican John Henry Kyl.

In 1965 Bandstra proposed a resolution to alter the National anthem.

Bandstra served only one term. Kyl regained his seat from Bandstra in 1966, and held off another challenge from Bandstra in 1968.

Bandstra died on October 23, 1995, in Pella. He was interred in Oakwood Cemetery in Pella.