Perry, Iowa principal Dan Marburger has died, family says

PERRY, Iowa — Ten days after a school shooting in Perry, Iowa, killed a sixth grader and injured seven others, another victim has passed away.

Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger’s family shared news of his passing on Sunday morning via GoFundMe, thanking him for giving them “10 days that we will treasure forever.” He passed away at approximately 8 a.m. on Jan. 14, making his the second death to come from the Perry High School shooting.

Marburger spent nearly three decades at the school and was regarded as a hero for his intervention during the shooting. 

In a Facebook post on the day of the shooting, his daughter, Claire Marburger, reflected on her dad’s actions.

“As I heard of a gunman, I instantly had a feeling my Dad would be a victim as he would put himself in harms way for the benefit of the kids and his staff,” the post reads. “It is absolutely zero surprise to hear he tried to approach and talk Dylan down and distract him long enough for some students to get out of the cafeteria. That’s just Dad.”

At a press conference on Friday, Jan. 5, Perry Community School District Superintendent Clark Wicks praised Marburger.

“He was a hero,” Wicks said. “And I know that it helped, the way that he a approached that situation. It saved some lives.” 

Wicks also credited an associate principal for saving lives. 

“We hate to see anybody injured, and for sure any deaths,” Wicks said. “But because of the heroic acts that they have done. . . we are very proud of the way they handled it. They’re heroes.”

Marburger was in and out of surgery in the days following the shooting, with Claire telling Local 5 that he was “nowhere near out of the woods” last weekend. 

The Perry Community School District and Iowa law enforcement have not yet released any additional information about Marburger’s death. No funeral arrangements have been announced yet.