Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
PFAFF, Marian
PFAFF, Marian. (Alta, IA, Aug. 18, 1922--Dubuque, IA, Mar. 17, 1996). Marian (nee Brogmus) Pfaff and Dr. Robert A. Pfaff were married for fifty years. In WORLD WAR II, she was a member in Baltimore, Maryland of the Cadet Nursing Corps, an effort to increase the number of RNs in the U.S., as the war had taken so many overseas. She met her future husband at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore as he was doing an internship there before being deployed by the Navy. They married in Old Forge, New York on July 6, 1945, just before his deployment. Together, they had 3 daughters and one son. (1)
In 1951, the Pfaffs settled in Dubuque, where Dr. Pfaff had taken a position as a urologist with MEDICAL ASSOCIATES CLINIC PC (THE). They remained for the rest of their lives. She never practiced nursing in Dubuque, spending the earlier years raising their family. (2)
When her children were old enough, her political career started in earnest. She served as the Dubuque County Republican Central Committee Chairperson. She was also co-chairperson of the Republican Second District Central Committee stepping down as chairperson in 1978. For several years, she ran the Dubuque office of Congressman Thomas Tauke. (3) Pfaff served on the Republican state party platform committee for several years until retiring in 1986. (4)
Pfaff ran a successful campaign to win election to the school board of the DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT on September 11, 1967. In her campaign she stressed the need for the school board to have stability, straightforwardness, and positive action. She felt there was a definite need for more qualified teachers. (5) Pfaff served for ten years--twice as its president. In 1976 shge ran unsuccessfully against Robert M. CARR for the 10th Senate District seat. She was an active supporter of Project Concern.
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Source:
1. Pfaff, Robert. e-mail, March 30, 2018
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. "Iowa Republicans Construct District Party Platforms," Telegraph Herald, May 5, 1986, p. 3
5. Shanley, Dale, "School Candidates Agree on Needs," Telegraph-Herald, September 7, 1966, p. 10