Birth Name: Terry Edward Branstad
Place of Birth: Leland, Iowa
Date of Birth: November 17, 1946
Ethnicity:
*Norwegian (father)
*Ashkenazi Jewish (mother)
Terry Branstad is an American politician. A Republican, he is the Governor of Iowa (he served as Governor from 1983 to 1999, and began serving as Governor again in 2011). He is the longest-serving Governor in Iowa history. If he remains Governor until the end of 2015, he would become the longest-serving Governor of any state in U.S. history.
Terry’s mother, Rita L. (Garland), was the daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants. Terry’s father, Edward Arnold Branstad, was from a Lutheran Norwegian-American family. Terry was raised Lutheran, and later converted to Catholicism (his wife’s religion).
Terry’s paternal grandparents were Helmer David Branstad (the son of Andrew Endre/Endresen Branstad and Ingeborg G. Nerli) and Hazel Rosella Peterson (the daughter of Edward Michael Peterson and Helena “Lena” M. Halverson). Andrew and Ingeborg were both Norwegian. Edward was born in Iowa, to Norwegian parents, Mikkel Peterson and Anna Nikoline Theadora Dorthea Olson Faa. Helena was also born in Iowa, also of Norwegian descent.
Terry’s maternal grandparents were Louis Edward Garland and Gertrude “Trudy” K. Goldstein (the daughter of Harry Goldstein and Jennie). Louis and Gertrude were Russian Jewish immigrants.
Sources: Obituary of Terry’s father – http://www.findagrave.com
Obituary of Terry’s mother – http://www.findagrave.com
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