[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 10 (Thursday, January 18, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E61-E62]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING PERRY HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL DAN MARBURGER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ZACHARY NUNN

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 18, 2024

  Mr. NUNN of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to 
honor Principal Dan Marburger's family who are grieving following an 
attack on Perry High School.
  During the attack, Principal Marburger heroically and selflessly put 
himself in harm's way enabling his students to run to safety. He saved 
many lives through his actions.
  Dan passed away and will be laid to rest this weekend. As his 
daughter Claire said. ``Dad taught us, inspired us to be better people 
every day. He passed many lessons and things on to us kids.''
  There's no doubt his impact will live on through the many students he 
mentored as an educator.
  My heart goes out to Dan's wife and children. I would like to include 
in the Record a Facebook post written by his daughter Claire that 
encapsulates the tremendous man, husband, father, grandfather, and 
educator he was:

       ``Yet another post I didn't imagine having to write . . .

[[Page E62]]

       If you are lucky enough to know my Dad, you know there are 
     not enough words to say about him.
       Dad taught us, inspired us to be better people everyday. He 
     passed many lessons and things on to us kids.
       Education is important. Five Perry High School graduates . 
     . . were lucky to walk across the stage as Dad said our name 
     with pride and we gave him a hug, Dad's hugs will never be 
     beaten . . . and then five college graduates that represented 
     the state of Iowa. Two graduates from UNI, a Central College 
     grad, a Luther College grad, and a University of Iowa grad. 
     Four out of five of us now work in schools or for schools. 
     The fifth child actually makes money.
       As a teacher in his building and watching him handle 
     students and accommodating as needed to see them succeed, it 
     became clear to me the impact we teachers and adults can have 
     on our students. Sometimes all a kiddo needs to find success 
     is for someone to genuinely hear them, and see them, and 
     prove to them that someone cares about them after their 
     mistakes, after their bad choices, and to not leave them out 
     to dry. Dad took no greater pride than seeing the kids he 
     harped on and held up tough expectations for, walk across the 
     stage with a diploma in hand. He also made sure that each 
     student had their name pronounced correctly, spending months 
     before graduation with flash cards pronouncing each name over 
     and over so that every student and family got to hear their 
     child's name or their name as they crossed the stage. If you 
     know how diverse Perry is, you know how tough a test this can 
     be.
       Another thing Dad taught us was how to love. How to love 
     each other, how to love our parents, how to love our spouses 
     and significant others, how to love our kids and grandkids. 
     And it comes down to one word, selflessly.
       Dad loved my mom, Dad is in love with my mom, 
     unconditional, no question, Dan & Elizabeth 4evr. His 
     patience, his grace, his unwavering support for mom in good 
     and bad times was so clear, I understand what it truly means 
     and looks like to love another person, not just saying you 
     love them but to live it and prove it every day. Not every 
     kid is lucky enough to see this from their parents but we 
     were.
       Dad showed us that we are never too busy or too far away to 
     care and support your parents. Dad has so much love and 
     respect for his parents, he would drop anything to be there 
     for them, however, whenever they needed. Give back to the 
     people that give so much for you.
       Us kids know now, especially looking back on our growing up 
     years how much Dad loved us. Tough love when we needed, 
     patience and understanding when we needed that. Expectations 
     that he had, but expectations that he made sure we knew were 
     important for us to have for ourselves.
       It is the little things like calling me Clairey or sending 
     me a random amount on Venmo saying ``Gas'' or ``Lunch on 
     me''. I was so excited for my Dad to meet my girlfriend's 
     three boys, knowing they would love him and he would love 
     them as if they were my own. Going out of his way to make 
     sure our boys felt welcome to the Marburger family. I really 
     wish Dad had an opportunity to play catch with them, 
     especially the youngest and his passion and love he is 
     developing for football and being able to bond over that. The 
     grandkids don't yet understand what they lost today, but 
     there will forever be ``grandpas babies'', bear traps, gummy 
     bears in the freezer, and plenty of naps in grandpas chair. 
     All things we will carry on.
       My Dad was an incredible man, educator. husband, Dad, 
     grandpa. A person I aspire to be and hope to make proud every 
     day.
       He will be greatly missed.
       I love you, Dad. You are the best, forever''.

  Principal Marburger showcased to America, to Iowa, to our own 
families what Perry Strong means.

                          ____________________