SIOUX FALLS (AP) — A South Dakota state lawmaker who was among several family members to contract the coronavirus has died.
State Rep. Bob Glanzer died at about 8 p.m. Friday at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, his son Tom said in a Facebook post.
Tom Glanzer and Senate Majority Leader Lee Qualm both confirmed Bob Glanzer’s death to The Associated Press.
The 74-year-old lawmaker had fallen ill almost two weeks ago, part of a cluster of COVID-19 cases around Huron, South Dakota. Glanzer’s wife, brother-in-law and sister-in-law all had the virus, and Glanzer’s 51-year-old niece, Mari Hofer, died of it, according to Hofer’s husband, Quint Hofer.
Glanzer was a retired agriculture loan officer and a past manager of the South Dakota State Fair.
“I was very sorry to hear of Bob Glanzer’s passing,” Governor Kristi Noem said. “Bob was a man of true integrity and someone I greatly respected. He epitomized what it means to be a true statesman and worked tirelessly for the people of Beadle and Kingsbury counties as well as for our entire state. Bryon and I will miss him dearly, and we extend our deepest sympathies to Penny and his entire family.”
Glanzer, 74, was a state representative from District 22, which is Beadle and Kingsbury counties. He had been serving in the state House since 2017.
Governor Noem will ask that flags across South Dakota fly at half-staff in honor of Representative Glanzer on the day of his funeral, which has yet to be set.
