A friend of mine has two of these shrubs. They are about 6 feet tall, one has orange flowers and the other hot pink. The flowers grow on a long branch with a large bunch of lowers at the end of the branch. They are very fragrant. None of us know what the name of the shrub is.
Some sort of azalea, they come in both of those colors. I have no idea exactly which one, but hopefully knowing it's an azalea is a good start for you.
If it is a rhododendrum, it might be the one in this thread. They are very similiar in color.
I would try posting pictures on the rhodendron and relatives forum. They are more likely to know which one your friend has.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/835602/
Given that you're in IA, I'm guessing zone 5? It is probably one of the Northern Lights cultivars, not many other azaleas are hardy this far north. They are also deciduous.
in your zone. im guessing a rhododendron. if it keeps the majority of its leaves thats what it is. those flowers are characteristic to azalea and rhododendron plants. Rhododendrons are azaleas that were bred to be hardier and evergreen.
Azaleas are a type of rhododendron, not the other way around. There are rhododendrons of widely varying hardiness, some are very hardy but others are tropical. If it's deciduous, there are deciduous azaleas that are hardy to zone 5. Hopefully cijustice will be back at some point and can let us know whether these plants are evergreen or deciduous.
With that distinctive habit and coloration I don't see how that could be anything other than a "deciduous Azalea" which, as ecrane said, is a Rhododendron, just not the classic evergreen rhododendron most people are used to. The one pictured is most likely 'Golden Lights' which, as trioadastra said, is a more cold hardy cultivar. http://www.paghat.com/azalea-goldenlights.html
