Alvin Baldus
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Wisconsin's 3rd district
In office
January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981
Preceded byVernon Wallace Thomson
Succeeded bySteve Gunderson
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
January 2, 1989 – January 6, 1997
Preceded byRichard Shoemaker
Succeeded byJoe Plouff
Constituency29th Assembly district
In office
January 1, 1973 – January 6, 1975
Preceded byDistrict established
Succeeded byLa Verne Ausman
Constituency69th Assembly district
In office
January 2, 1967 – January 1, 1973
Preceded byFrancis L. Peterson
Succeeded byDistrict abolished
ConstituencyDunn County district
Personal details
Born(1926-04-27)April 27, 1926
Garner, Iowa, U.S.
DiedFebruary 2, 2017(2017-02-02) (aged 90)
Menomonie, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeSaint Josephs Cemetery, Menomonie
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Anna Lorayne Reiten
​
​
(m. 1959⁠–⁠2017)​
Children5
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1951–1953
Unit2nd Div. U.S. Infantry
Battles/warsKorean War

Alvin James "Al" Baldus (April 27, 1926 – February 2, 2017) was an American Democratic politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district from 1975 to 1981. He also served 16 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1967–1975 & 1989–1997).

Early and career

Born in Garner, Iowa, Baldus graduated from high school in Elkton, Minnesota, and went to Riverland Community College (formerly Austin Junior College) in Austin, Minnesota.[1]

He was in the United States Merchant Marine from 1944 to 1946 and the United States Army, serving in the Korean War from 1951 to 1953.[1]

In 1959, he wed Lorayne Reiten, to whom he would be married until his death in 2017.[1]

He served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1966 to 1975 and again from 1989 to 1997.[2]

Congress

He served three terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 1981, representing Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district—the first Democrat to hold this seat in 66 years.[citation needed] He served as part of the 94th, 95th and 96th United States Congresses.[2]

He ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1980, losing to Republican Steve Gunderson.

Personal life and family

Alvin Baldus married Anna Lorayne "Lolly" Reiten in 1959, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Menomonie.[2] They had six children together and were married for 58 years before his death in 2017. He died at his home in Menomonie, Wisconsin, on February 2, 2017, at age 90.[3][4][1] He was buried at St Joseph's Catholic Church Cemetery.[2]

Baldus' eldest daughter, Deb McGrath, ran for his former seat in the United States House of Representatives in the 2022 election, but lost in the Democratic primary to state senator Brad Pfaff.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Alvin J. Baldus". rhielfuneralhome.com.
  2. ^ a b c d "Obituary: Alvin 'Al' James Baldus". The Chippewa Herald. February 5, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  3. ^ "Alvin Baldus, Wisconsin Historical Society". Archived from the original on 2016-04-08. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  4. ^ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1995-1996,' Biographical Sketch of Alvin Baldus, pg. 41
  5. ^ Redman, Henry (November 10, 2021). "Deb McGrath, daughter of former congressman enters primary in 3rd Congressional District". Wisconsin Examiner. Retrieved December 25, 2023.

External links

Wisconsin State Assembly Preceded byFrancis L. Peterson Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Dunn County district January 2, 1967 – January 1, 1973 District abolished District established by 1971 Wis. Act 304 Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 69th district January 1, 1973 – January 6, 1975 Succeeded byLa Verne Ausman Preceded byRichard Shoemaker Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 29th district January 2, 1989 – January 6, 1997 Succeeded byJoe Plouff U.S. House of Representatives Preceded byVernon Wallace Thomson Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981 Succeeded bySteve Gunderson
Wisconsin's delegation(s) to the 94th–96th United States Congresses (ordered by seniority)
Authority control databases: People
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