Iowa State Representative Jack Drake (R-Griswold) has died Caffeinated Thoughts learned Sunday evening. He was 81. Drake, first elected in 1992, was serving his 12th term in the chamber. There has been no word of the cause of death or funeral arrangements.
Drake was a member of the Agriculture, Appropriations and State Government Committee. He chaired the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee.
Drake represented House District 21 which includes all of Adams County and Union County, and parts of Cass County and Pottawattamie County.
Drake was born on July 29, 1934 in Walnut, Iowa. He is a graduate of Atlantic High School and the University of Iowa. Like many state legislators Drake was a farmer. He was secretary and board member of Walnut Telephone Company. Member of Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Farm Bureau, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), and Griswold United Methodist Church. Drake is a past state director of Iowa Farm Bureau and past president of East Pottawattamie County Extension Council and Farm Bureau.
“Iowa lost a dedicated public servant with the passing of Rep. Jack Drake. We are all saddened to hear the news, but we will remember Jack as a strong advocate for his constituents, serving them honorably for nearly 23 years. During his time in the Iowa House, Jack was a leader and trusted resource on agricultural issues which are so important to the State of Iowa. As the most senior member of the House Republican Caucus, his expertise and guidance will be sorely missed. We will keep Jack’s family and friends in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” House Speaker-Select Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake) said in a released statement Monday morning.
“I had the honor of sitting beside Jack in the Iowa House, and I learned he was a man of great integrity and a strong advocate for Iowa agriculture. I will miss him, the Iowa House will miss him, and our great state will miss his capable and steady hands,” Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann said in a released statement.
Drake is survived by his wife Shirley, four children, eleven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.