OMAHA, Neb.—Hundreds of people gathered in Omaha Saturday to mourn the passing of former U.S. Rep. Peter Hoagland.
The Nebraska Democrat died Tuesday in Washington, D.C., of complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 65.
Paul Landow, Hoagland’s chief of staff during his three terms in Congress, said during Saturday’s funeral service at Trinity Cathedral that Hoagland was “the ultimate public servant. The only thing he cared about in life was his service.”
Born Nov. 17, 1941, to staunch Republican parents, Hoagland graduated from Omaha’s Central High School, then Stanford University in California. After serving in the Army during the Vietnam War, he graduated with a law degree from Yale in 1968.
Hoagland worked as an intern for Republican U.S. Sen. Roman Hruska, but the Watergate scandal surrounding the Nixon White House and dissatisfaction with the state party turned him on to the Democratic Party in 1974.
Hoagland was first elected to the state Legislature in 1978 and served two terms. He declined to run for a third term, but later campaigned for the U.S. House, winning a seat vacated by Hal Daub.
Hoagland represented the Omaha area for three terms in the House—from 1989 to 1995.
After one of the dirtiest races in the 1994 “Republican Revolution”—which gave the GOP a majority in Congress—Republican Jon Christensen upset Hoagland by less than 1 percent of the vote.
The Nebraska Democratic Party awarded Hoagland with its Hall of Fame award in June.
Hoagland is survived by his wife, Barbara, and five children.
Gov. Dave Heineman ordered all flags to fly at half-staff Saturday in Hoagland’s honor.
