Representative Clifford O. Branstad View All Years

CLIFFORD BRANSTAD

Clifford Branstad was born on April 23, 1924 in Newton Township, Iowa. Branstad attended local grade schools and graduated from Thompson High School. He attended Dunwoody Institute in Minnesota as well as State Teachers College in Wisconsin and received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology & Economics from the University of Iowa in 1948. He married Grace Martin in 1947 and their union created five children.

He entered the United States Air Force in 1943. During World War II he flew 41 bombing missions over Germany, North Africa and Italy. After completing his missions he flew himself back to the United States.

Branstad was the past president of Winnebago Farm Bureau, Thompson School Board, Winnebago Pork Producers and his church board; he was also a former 4-H leader. He was a member of Iowa Taxpayers Association, People United for Rural Education, American Legion, Veterans for Foreign Wars, Farmers Union, Iowa Soybean Association, Corn Growers Association, Thompson Lions Club and sons of Norway.

He had a reputation of being a man of few words, working behind the scenes to build consensus to get legislation passed. He was not a fan of the limelight and would shun it whenever he could. He was a legislator when his second cousin Terry Branstad was Lieutenant Governor and then Governor of Iowa.

Branstad was a Republican from Winnebago County. He was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in the fall of 1978, serving for nine terms. During his time he served on many committees; Transportation, Finance, Natural Resources, Labor and Industrial Relations, Appropriations, County Government, Ways and Means, Agriculture, Economic Development, Education, Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations subcommittee.

Representative Branstad passed away on November 10, 2014 at the age of 90.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EIGHTY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA, That in the passing of the Honorable Clifford Branstad, the State has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the House by this Resolution would express its appreciation of his service.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

TEDD GASSMAN

HELEN MILLER

MIKE SEXTON

Committee