Alvin James "Al" Baldus (April 27, 1926February 2, 2017) was an American Democratic politician who served as a member of the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

, representing

Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district covers most of the Driftless Area in southwestern and western Wisconsin. The district includes the cities of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Wisconsin, La Crosse, and Stevens Point, Wisconsin, ...

from 1975 to 1981. He also served 16 years in the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Assembly is controlled by the Republican ...

(1967–1975 & 1989–1997).

Early and career

Born in

Garner, Iowa Garner is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,065 in the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, an increase from 2,922 in 2000 United States Census, 2000. History Garner was named after Col. ...

, Baldus graduated from high school in

Elkton, Minnesota Elkton is a city in Marshall Township, Minnesota, Marshall Township, Mower County, Minnesota, Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 130 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History Elkton was platted on January ...

, and went to

Riverland Community College Riverland Community College is a public community college with three campuses in southeastern Minnesota: Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna. Founded in 1940, Riverland offers educational programs and courses to over 4,900 students annually throug ...

(formerly Austin Junior College) in

Austin, Minnesota Austin is a city in and the county seat of Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 26,174 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The town was originally settled along the Cedar River (Iowa River), Cedar River and has ...

. He was in the

United States Merchant Marine The United States Merchant Marine is an organization composed of United States civilian sailor, mariners and U.S. civilian and federally owned merchant vessels. Both the civilian mariners and the merchant vessels are managed by a combination of ...

from 1944 to 1946 and the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

, serving in the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

from 1951 to 1953. In 1959, he wed Lorayne Reiten, to whom he would be married until his death in 2017. He served in the

from 1966 to 1975 and again from 1989 to 1997.

Congress

He served three terms in the

from 1975 to 1981, representing

—the first Democrat to hold this seat in 66 years. He served as part of the 94th,

95th 95 or 95th may refer to: * 95 (number) * one of the years 95 BC, AD 95, 1995, 2095, etc. * 95th Division (disambiguation) * 95th Regiment ** 95th Regiment of Foot (disambiguation) * 95th Squadron (disambiguation) * Atomic number 95: americium * I ...

and 96th United States Congresses. He ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1980, losing to Republican

Steve Gunderson Steven Craig Gunderson (born May 10, 1951) is an American former politician who was a Republican U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district from 1981 to 1997, when he was succeeded by Democrat Ron Kind. After leaving office, ...

Personal life and family

Alvin Baldus married Anna Lorayne "Lolly" Reiten in 1959, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Menomonie. They had six children together and were married for 58 years before his death in 2017. He died at his home in

Menomonie, Wisconsin Menomonie () is a city in and the county seat of Dunn County, Wisconsin, United States. The city's population was 16,843 as of the 2020 census. Menomonie forms the core of the United States Census Bureau's Menomonie Micropolitan Statistical A ...

, on February 2, 2017, at age 90. He was buried at St Joseph's Catholic Church Cemetery. 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.

References

External links

* , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Baldus, Alvin 1926 births 2017 deaths People from Garner, Iowa People from Prescott, Wisconsin Military personnel from Wisconsin United States Merchant Mariners of World War II Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin People from Menomonie, Wisconsin United States Army personnel of the Korean War Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Catholic politicians from Wisconsin 20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives