Martin L. Graber (June 3, 1952 – January 31, 2025) was an American politician who was a Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 2021 until his death. Formerly serving district 83, he was serving[1] District 100 at the time of his death.
Education and early career
Graber was born on June 3, 1952, in Donnellson, Iowa.[2] He was raised there and attended Central Lee High School.[3] He earned a degree in business administration at the University of Iowa, and completed a master's degree in business at St. Ambrose University in 1987, followed by a master's degree in strategic studies at the United States Army War College in 2002.[3] Graber served 32 years in the National Guard,[4] retiring with the rank of brigadier general within the Iowa National Guard.[3] During Operation Desert Storm, Graber was deployed to Germany.[5] At other times during his military career, he served with the 224th Engineer Battalion and at Camp Dodge.[5] From 1980 to 1991, Graber was a manager within the human resources department of the Dial Corporation.[4][3] From 1991, he worked for Ameriprise Financial Service in Fort Madison, Iowa, as a financial adviser.[4][3]
Political career
At the time of his first state legislative campaign in 2020, Graber was still working for Amerprise, and was serving his second term as chair of the Lee County Republican Party.[4][3] Graber filed for the Republican nomination for District 83 of the Iowa House of Representatives in March 2020,[3] and defeated incumbent legislator Jeff Kurtz in the November 2020 general elections.[6][7]
Personal life and death
Graber and his wife, Coni, had two children.[8] He died in Fort Madison, Iowa, on January 31, 2025, at the age of 72.[8][2]
References
- ^ legis.iowa.gov
- ^ a b "Martin L. Graber". King-Lynk Funeral Home. February 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Delany, Robin (March 12, 2020). "Martin Graber seeks election to Iowa House". Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Delany, Robin (October 14, 2020). "Graber says it's time to put a conservative in the House seat". Daily Gate City. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^ a b Vandenberg, Chuck (September 29, 2020). "Graber, Kurtz ramp up campaigns as absentee voting nears". Pen City Current. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^ Sammann, Blake (October 27, 2020). "Graber and Kurtz square off in 83rd district race". WGEM. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^ Roberts, Jim (November 4, 2020). "Graber unseats Kurtz from Iowa's 83rd district". WGEM. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^ a b Gruber-Miller, Stephen (January 31, 2025). "Republican Iowa state Rep. Martin Graber dies unexpectedly at 72". Des Moines Register. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
