Joy Corning

Joy Corning ( Cole; September 7, 1932 – May 20, 2017) was an American politician who served as the 43rd Lieutenant Governor of Iowa from 1991 to 1999. She was a member of the Republican Party.

Early life

Corning was born in 1932, the only daughter of three children born to Perry Aaron Cole and Ethel (née Sullivan) Cole, in Bridgewater.

A vocal proponent of abortion rights, Corning served on the Board of Directors for Iowa’s chapter of Planned Parenthood and even led that organization’s fundraising drive in 2002.

A proponent of gay rights, on May 12, 2009, Corning received the "Interfaith Award" along with the woman who followed her as Lt. Governor, Sally Pederson. The award was presented by the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, and came after a joint letter to the editor of the Des Moines Register penned by the pair of former Lieutenant Governors promoting gay marriage.

Death Corning died May 20, 2017, from a liver condition.