Northeast Iowa mayor dies in Monday morning crash, three others injured

The mayor of a small town near Waterloo died in a crash involving two vehicles Monday morning that left three others injured.

Gregory "Mike" Harter, 71, had served as mayor of Fairbank, a town of 1,111 people located west of Oelwein in Buchanan and Fayette counties, since 2018. He previously was on the city council, according to a post on the city's Facebook page.

"Mike’s love for his family and passion for the community was seen daily, and his commitment to the city of Fairbank will always be remembered," the post said. "He will be dearly missed by city staff, the council and the community of Fairbank."

Harter's son, Andy Harter, told the Des Moines Register of the mayor's extensive community service and longtime career as an educator. The father grew up in western Iowa and studied education at the University of Northern Iowa, where he met his wife Marla, who was also studying education.

Their first jobs were on the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Reservation in South Dakota. Harter then moved to the Orient-Macksburg schools, where he also got involved in city government. His first principal job was in Russell, which is now part of the Chariton district, and he was on the city council there.

Andy Harter said Mike Harter then moved to Wapsie Valley schools, based in Fairbank, and was the high school principal until 2002. He then became the superintendent of East Greene schools and, for a time after leaving East Greene, returned to Wapsie Valley as interim superintendent.

MIke Harter was a member of the Lions Club and served as a referee and coach in "every sport," according to his son, who said he may have officially retired but never really gave up working.

Mike Harter was a passenger in a driver's education vehicle being driven by a 14-year-old south on Highway 218 in Bremer County around 8:30 a.m., according to an Iowa State Patrol crash report. The driver over-corrected after the car went onto the shoulder, which caused it to cross into northbound lanes and collide with oncoming traffic, the report said. The driver, a 14-year-old passenger, and the 44-year-old driver of the other vehicle were all injured and taken to local hospitals.

Chris Higgins covers the eastern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Fairbank, Iowa mayor dies in crash on Highway 218 in Bremer County