Donald Avenson

Donald D. Avenson (September 16, 1944 – May 19, 2017) was an American politician in the state of Iowa.

Donald Avenson
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
In office
January 8, 1973 – January 8, 1991
Personal details
Born(1944-09-16)September 16, 1944
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedMay 19, 2017(2017-05-19) (aged 72)
North Platte, Nebraska, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
OccupationTool and die maker, office manager

Early life

Avenson was born on September 16, 1944, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Donald C. and Wilma G. Avenson. The family lived in Oelwein, Iowa, and he graduated from Oelwein Community High School in 1962.

On August 1, 1964, he married Diane Mary Duda and the couple had three children. Avenson attended the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, receiving his bachelor's degree in political science and history in 1970, and completed his graduate studies in history at the University of Northern Iowa.[1][2]

Political career

Avenson worked at the Oelwein Tool & Die Company. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1973 to 1991, as a Democrat.[1] He unsuccessfully ran for governor in 1990, losing to Terry Branstad.[3][4]

Later life

Avenson died in Great Plains Medical Center in North Platte, Nebraska on May 19, 2017, from a heart attack. He was 72 years old.[5][6][7]

References
  1. Iowa Legislative Services Agency. "State Representative". Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  2. "Donald D. Avenson | Special Collections & University Archives". scua.library.uni.edu. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  3. Petroski, William. "Don Avenson, former Iowa House speaker, dead at 72". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  4. Maraniss, David (1990-08-18). "ABORTION NEW ROLE IN IOWA". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  5. Staff (May 20, 2017). "Former Iowa House Speaker Don Avenson Dies at 72". WHOtv. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  6. Crippes, Christinia (May 20, 2017). "Former speaker Don Avenson passes away at 72". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  7. "Don Avenson, former speaker of Iowa House, dies". www.thegazette.com. Retrieved 2022-10-30.


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