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Rusty Martin died peacefully near Zurich, Switzerland, on Aug. 18, 2026, after years of struggles with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. He was 66. He was a lifelong resident of Iowa and lived in Des Moines.
Rusty was proud to say he was a Sac County farm boy from Newell. He graduated from Newell-Providence High School in 1978. His parents, Robert and Eileen Martin, instilled in him a love of the written word, the value of participating in politics, and supported him through his many years of advocacy.
While student body president at the University of Northern Iowa, he challenged university policies and staged mass voter registration drives. While a student, he refused to register for the draft. This led to him being federally prosecuted and convicted of draft evasion. Rusty used his national platform to advocate for peace and justice.
In the mid-1980s, Rusty moved to Iowa City and got deeply involved in local politics. There he was immersed in community activities and energetically ran numerous successful local political campaigns.
He created his own Iowa City local news list service called, “RM News” with the tag line, “biased, but not boring.” He also helped create Iowa News and Views, a statewide public access, public affairs TV program. Throughout his life, Rusty worked to ensure that public policy helped everyday people. He used his considerable talents as a creative writer, photographer and communicator to help advocate for candidates and policies that supported fairness and justice.
In 1999, Rusty went to work for the Iowa Senate Democrats at the Iowa State Capitol. He became their Director of Communications.
He lived during an incredible time of communication innovation with the advent of personal computers and the internet. He helped usher in email, list serves, websites, Facebook, Twitter and all the rest. He thrived in this world. He had the latest computers, first digital cameras, wireless microphones, and huge computer monitors! Rusty mastered all the technology to tell compelling stories.
Rusty especially enjoyed recruiting and working with talented student communication interns at the Capitol. He helped launch the careers of many dozens of young people in politics and public affairs. Rusty retired in 2023 after 24 years at the statehouse. He loved giving advice to anyone and everyone on what needed to be done and how to do it! He was a great co-worker, colleague and friend to many. He was high energy, easily bored, and generous with his time and energy.
Rusty loved his family. He also loved being with children, playing board games, nature, camping, cribbage, computers, cameras, biking, hiking, running, kayaking and traveling throughout Iowa and the country.
He leaves behind his wife and partner of 28 years, Kay Meyer, and their five sons: Jann Haglan (and wife Jennifer), Orion Martin (and partner Finnegan Shannon), Kary Haglan, Neil Haglan and Scott Meyer; and two grandchildren, Alexis Haglan and Karlyn River Haglan. He is also survived by his siblings: Peggy Martin, Pat Martin, Peter Martin, Paul Martin, Rhonda Martin and James Martin, and their immediate and extended families.
Friends, family, colleagues and all who knew Rusty are welcome to join us to celebrate his life and accomplishments on Oct. 21 from 5-7 p.m. at Raccoon River Park Lodge, located at 2500 Grand Ave., West Des Moines.
While Rusty was an avid bike rider before his diagnosis of Alzheimers, he found biking cleared his mind of the brain fog that accompanies this disease. Donations will be used to support the construction of the Iowa River’s Edge Trail, a project of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. https://www.inhf.org/rusty-martin
