An Iowa legislator who had served in the Iowa House since 2009 has died. He was 73.Rep. Curt Hanson was born in Iowa and raised on a Kossuth County farm near Swea City. He was a resident of Fairfield for 52 years. Curt was married for 48 years to Diane, a retired family and consumer science teacher. They had two grown children and five grandchildren.Curt was a driver education teacher at Fairfield High School for 43 years. As a driver education teacher, Curt received the Fairfield Jaycee Outstanding Young Education Award, was named the Fairfield Teacher of the Year, and was named runner-up for the National Driver Education Teacher of the Year. He is also an amateur radio operator and had been a private pilot. Curt was a former president of the Iowa Association of Safety Education, and was their business manager for many years. He was also a former president of the Fairfield Education Association and a member of the National Education Association and the Iowa State Education Association. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Fairfield Kiwanis, and the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce. “Iowa lost an exceptional public servant today with the passing of Rep. Curt Hanson. Curt taught thousands of students to drive safely on the roads in Jefferson County and was an active member of the Fairfield community his entire life. Rep. Hanson was the model for thoughtful, diplomatic, and constituent-centered representation. He worked tirelessly for his constituents every single day. His passion for education and expertise on transportation issues will be sorely missed in the Iowa House. My thoughts and prayer are with Diane and the family,” said House Minority Leader Mark Smith.Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg issued statements Friday morning on the passing of State Representative Curt Hanson: “I was saddened to hear the news of Rep. Curt Hanson’s passing this morning,” Gov. Reynolds said. “Rep. Hanson was a champion of education. As a former teacher, he wanted to ensure everyone in Iowa had the same access to quality, affordable education. Rep. Hanson’s presence in the Iowa House will greatly missed. I am keeping his wife, Diane, his children and his grandchildren in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.” “Around the State Capitol, Rep. Curt Hanson had a reputation for being kind,” Lt. Gov. Gregg said. “In a political climate where kindness often tends to be the exception, not the rule, Rep. Hanson’s thoughtful nature did not go unnoticed. He will be greatly missed, not only by his fellow lawmakers, but also by his family. Please join me in keeping the Hanson family in your thoughts and prayers as they mourn the passing of their husband, father and grandfather.”