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Alvin Baldus
Alvin Baldus
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; from Wisconsin's 3rd district
	In office; January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	Vernon Wallace Thomson
Succeeded by	Steve Gunderson
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
	In office; January 2, 1989 – January 6, 1997
Preceded by	Richard Shoemaker
Succeeded by	Joe Plouff
Constituency	29th Assembly district
	In office; January 1, 1973 – January 6, 1975
Preceded by	District established
Succeeded by	La Verne Ausman
Constituency	69th Assembly district
	In office; January 2, 1967 – January 1, 1973
Preceded by	Francis L. Peterson
Succeeded by	District abolished
Constituency	Dunn County district
Personal details
Born	April 27, 1926; Garner, Iowa, U.S.
Died	February 2, 2017 (aged 90); Menomonie, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Saint Josephs Cemetery, Menomonie
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Anna Lorayne Reiten (m. 1959⁠–⁠2017)
Children	5
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1951–1953
Unit	2nd Div. U.S. Infantry
Battles/wars	Korean 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

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Alvin J. Baldus". rhielfuneralhome.com.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Obituary: Alvin 'Al' James Baldus". The Chippewa Herald. February 5, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
^ "Alvin Baldus, Wisconsin Historical Society". Archived from the original on 2016-04-08. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
^ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1995-1996,' Biographical Sketch of Alvin Baldus, pg. 41
^ 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

United States Congress. "Alvin Baldus (id: B000083)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Alvin Baldus at Find a Grave

Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Francis 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 by La Verne Ausman
Preceded by Richard Shoemaker	Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 29th district January 2, 1989 – January 6, 1997	Succeeded by Joe Plouff
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Vernon Wallace Thomson	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981	Succeeded by Steve Gunderson