United Group Insurance

Long-time legislator from Fort Madison dies after Covid diagnosis

News

November 30th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — A southeast Iowa man who served nearly three decades as a state senator has died of Covid-related complications. Eugene Fraise of Fort Madison — known to his colleagues around the state capitol as Gene — was 88. He died at the hospital in West Burlington on Friday. Fraise was a farmer who served as a Lee County Supervisor for seven years before winning a state in the Iowa Senate. He did not seek reelection in 2012 after serving 27 years in the legislature.

Fraise is survived by his wife, Faye, who was his clerk in the senate. The couple were married for nearly 71 years. They married on New Year’s Eve, 1949. Fraise is also survived by three sons, 14 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.