Funeral Sunday for Urbandale Political Activist Brad Peyton

Urbandale political activist Brad Peyton is being remembered as a humanitarian after he lost his battle with pancreatic cancer Thursday.

Peyton, 56, worked on community bond issue referendums, managed several high-profile campaigns and also served on the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, the Des Moines Register reports.

But his greatest legacy may have been as a humanitarian, “which not everyone saw,” said former Republican state Rep. Scott Raecker of Urbandale, whose campaign he managed.

Peyton also managed campaigns for Sen. Brad Zaun, another Urbandale Republican.

“He touched so many lives internationally,” Zaun told the newspaper. “I will never forget when he came back from a mission in China and felt guilty as he was driving his sedan. He thought to himself how fortunate he was at home. He sold that car and bought a clunker with the proceeds going to the China foundation that he started.”

Peyton was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June.

Visitation is Saturday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Urbandale. The funeral is Sunday at 3 p.m., also at Gloria Dei, 8301 Aurora Ave. in Urbandale.