Maurice John Dingman

Maurice Dingman was born on a farm near St. Paul, Iowa, to Theodore and Angela (née Witte) Dingman.[1] He attended St. Ambrose College in Davenport before studying in Rome at the Pontifical North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University. Dingman was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Davenport on December 8, 1939 by Bishop Ralph Hayes in the Chapel of Our Lady of Humility at the North American College.[2] Upon his return to Iowa, he taught at St. Ambrose Academy in Davenport from 1940 until 1943, when he became assistant chancellor of the diocese and Bishop Henry Rohlman's secretary. He earned a Licentiate of Canon Law from the Catholic University of America at Washington, D.C. in 1946. From 1946 to 1953 he was principal of Bishop Hayes High School in Muscatine. He was later named superintendent of Catholic schools and chancellor of the diocese. Dingman also served as chaplain at Ottumwa Naval Air Station, the Congregation of the Humility of Mary Motherhouse in Ottumwa, Regina Coeli Monastery in Bettendorf, and Davenport's Mercy Hospital.[1]

On April 2, 1968, Dingman was appointed the sixth Bishop of Des Moines by Pope Paul VI.[3] He received his episcopal ordination on the following June 19 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport from Archbishop Luigi Raimondi. Davenport Bishops Ralph Hayes and Gerald O'Keefe were the co-consecrators.[3] His was one of the first episcopal ordinations celebrated in the vernacular.[4] He was installed at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines on July 7, 1968.[5] A Mass followed at Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Bishop Dingman became known as a champion of rural issues and ecumenism, and strengthened the laity, priests, and nuns of the diocese.[1] He supported nuclear disarmament and was open to discussion on the subject of women's ordination.[1] From 1976 to 1979, he served as president of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference.

On October 4, 1979, Pope John Paul II made an historic visit to the Des Moines Diocese upon the suggestion of a local Iowa farmer, Joe Hays of Truro, and the invitation of Bishop Dingman.[6] After landing at the Des Moines Airport, the pope visited the rural parish of St. Patrick near Irish Settlement. He then celebrated a Mass at Living History Farms in Urbandale.

In October 1983 Dingman was abducted by gunpoint by two juveniles, whose advocate in court the bishop later became.[1]

On April 17, 1986, Dingman suffered a massive stroke in his kitchen.[7] He recuperated at his family home in St. Paul. For his life work as an advocate for peace and justice issues, Bishop Dingman received the 1986 Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award, which is sponsored in part by his native diocese of Davenport, and his alma mater St. Ambrose College. After eighteen years as bishop, Dingman resigned due to poor health on October 14, 1986.[3] He died on February 1, 1992, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. His funeral was celebrated at St. Ambrose Cathedral, and he was buried in Glendale Cemetery, Des Moines.[8]