G. David Hurd
February 06, 2016
G. David Hurd, the only son of Gerald and Hilldur Hurd, was born December 14, 1929 in Chicago. He died February 6, 2016 at the age of 86. He will be deeply mourned and lovingly remembered by his wife, Trudy Holman Hurd; his children, Janet Nunziata (Bruce) of Shelburne, VT, Sally Hurd (Bart Levine) of Sebastopol, CA, Michael Hurd (Teresa) of Dallas, TX; his grandchildren, Natasha Gialto (Richard), Keith Nunziata (Ivy), Grace Levine and Miles Levine; two great grandchildren; and five nieces and nephews. He will be missed greatly by the Holman family: Steve, Washington, DC; Deborah, Brookline, MA; Lisa Holman Fox & Barry Fox, and Brandon and Zoey Fox. Dave is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Patricia Lamb Hurd and his second wife, Barbara Brubaker Hurd.
Dave graduated from Michigan State in 1951, served in the army in the Korean War and came to Des Moines in 1954 to start a furniture-making business with an army buddy. In order to support their entrepreneurial dream, they were looking for work when they passed Bankers Life, Inc., the precursor to Principal Financial Group. Dave said, “Let's go in here, I've got a life insurance policy with them.” They were hired on the spot. It was the beginning of a 40-year career which culminated in his serving as President, CEO and Chairman of the multi-billion dollar company and leading it into the international market. His legacy at Principal is widely known and felt to this day. He led the business community in removing barriers to employment for LGBT persons and put himself on record publicly to encourage others to do the same. He brought his beloved employees to a new level of health and fitness through his strong belief and leadership in wellness. Known for running to and from work most every day, his retirement party was a 5k run for the whole company. He became a respected leader nationally in many industry related groups.
He believed his purpose in life was to “try to make the world a better place, whether by picking up trash, or raising funds for worthwhile causes, or making donations from my own funds, or building networks of friends and acquaintances to have a stronger more successful community.” He lived his life to make that happen.
Dave embraced Des Moines as his home and became passionate about challenging the community to become a world-class city. He devoted years of his life and much of his treasure to actively support making this dream a reality. His brilliance, his strategic thinking and planning, his constant leadership and ability to build coalitions in the most unlikely places, and his skill at making things happen made Dave the go-to person when something needed to get done. He cared about everything from clean water, to developing greater relationships between business and the police department, to saving cranes worldwide. He once spent a weekend with Chief Bill Moulder and driving around with police officers to give the Chief some feedback, much to the surprise of all involved. A renaissance man, his vision included progress for our city in the arts and culture, music, education, recreation, health and wellness, employment. He was so proud of how far the city has come. His life as a runner in town was legendary. A cyclist and rower, he was committed to daily health and wellness and encouraged all around him to do the same because he knew their life would improve.
Dave served on and chaired countless Boards, indicating his wide range of interests. Some of those included: Project Iowa, The Community Foundation, Nature Conservancy of Iowa, Downtown Community Alliance, DM Arts Festival, International Advisory Council of Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy, Bucksbaum Distinguished Lecture Series, Whitewater Coalition, Public Art Foundation, Governor's Task Force on Energy Policy, DM Audubon Society, to name just a few, and many, many industry related organizations.
He was one of the founding directors of the Iowa Environmental Council and Co-Convenor of Business for Peace. Dave's conservation vision and financial support allowed the Nature Conservancy to start Broken Kettle Grasslands in the Loess Hills, Iowa's largest native prairie. Always looking to the future, a more recent gift established an endowment to ensure the long-term protection of this Iowa treasure, which now spans approximately 7,000 acres. He always looked to the future and challenged others to do the same in their visioning. He was honored over the years by so many organizations for his loyal work and always wondered why they would pick him for an award. A few of those include Iowa Legal Aid, Interfaith Alliance, Greater DM Community Foundation Better Together Award, Outstanding Philanthropist, Primary Health Care-the AIDS Project, Eychaner Foundation Matthew Shepard Scholarship Lifetime Achievement Award and DM Music Coalition.
Humble, kind, fair, honest-as-the-day-is-long, intellectually gifted, extraordinary, impish, quirky, joyful, serious but never took himself too serious, courageous, loving, a natural leader and a perfect husband are some words used to describe Dave. Throughout his lifetime, Dave was a man of many and varied interests, none of which he pursued casually. He co-founded the DM Scrabble Club with his good friend, Mark Movic. He was a marathon and ultra-marathon runner who participated in marathons across the country and even outside the country, as well as organizing a number of races in DM with that same friend. Dave was widely read and took up both French and Spanish as a business man and after retirement. He was the senior member of his beloved Prairie Club, and started a poker club. He traveled the world and was an avid birder. A man of great distinction, he lived his life to the fullest and enriched the lives of those around him in doing so. While he will be missed by many, the legacy of his contributions to the community and causes dear to his heart will endure, just as he will always be loved and honored in our memories.
Services will be a Celebration of Life on Tuesday, February 16, at the Atrium of Capital Square, 400 Locust St., 5:00-8:00, with a Celebration program at 6:45. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, February 17, 10:30 at the First Unitarian Church, 1800 Bell Avenue.
Seating is somewhat limited at the church.
Rather than flowers, Dave would be honored with memorials to Project Iowa, or Youth & Shelter Services, Inc. (YSS).
Bonnie Busch
04/14/2016
So sorry for your loss. This is certainly a loss to family, friends, local community and much wider communities around the globe. Dave was maverick that challenged many of us to dream big and live out those dreams. So glad my path crossed with Dave.
Michael Ostermann, Dahl Adult Day Center at Wesley
02/17/2016
Dave's family,
I am sorry for your loss. I greatly enjoyed and benefited from talking with Dave and hearing his thoughts about what he was reading, or about current societal issues and concerns.
Mary Carey
02/13/2016
My love and prayers to you all.
May his love and good memories bring you some peace soon.
Janet & Mark Rosenbury
02/12/2016
Trudy and family,
Our thoughts and love go out to you, What a difference Dave's life made.
Becky Dufelmeier Hedstrom
02/12/2016
My family lived next door to the Hurd family; my younger brothers grew up with the Hurd kids. We were privileged to kmow Dave and Pat who have always seemed to me the personification of honor, compassion and generosity. The Dufelmeier kids send our sympathies to the Hurd kids.
Merle Pederson
02/12/2016
Dave was an icon. He was an incredibly influential thought leader at Principal Financial and in the DSM metro community. He and Trudy have been extremely generous benefactors for many, many causes and organizations. The Hurd's impact will be felt in the community for decades and decades to come. God Bless the memory of David Hurd. He was one of a kind in so many ways.
My deepest sympathy to Trudy and the extended family.
Merle Pederson
Joni Axel
02/12/2016
The lasting memory of David Hurd will remain deep for all of his communities. He was capital person and friend to the earth and all it sustains. It was an honor to be acquainted with him. I am sorry for your loss.
Di Findley
02/12/2016
My heart goes out to you all. David was so real and I adored him for the humility that seemed to run through his veins.
Wade & Mary Krieg
02/11/2016
Our deepest sympathy to Trudy and all the Hurd family. Dave started at Principal (then Banker's Life) the same day in 1954 that my dad Don Krieg did, and they worked closely together for many years. Dave will be remembered by all who knew him as a kind and humble man in addition to being a great and visionary leader for the company and our community.
Frank and Geri Kintzle
02/11/2016
We sent our thoughts, prayers and comfort to the Hurd family. Dave was a great leader and we enjoyed our numerous conversation over the many years. He indeed was great for Principal and Principal for him. Know that he will be remembered.
Jody McCombs-Miller
02/11/2016
My sincerest sympathies go to the entire Hurd family. I was honored to be an employee at the time when Mr. Hurd was the revered head of the company. His leadership was of the highest quality. His vision and leadership will never be forgotten.
Jill June
02/11/2016
Oh Trudy I send my deepest sympathies. Our sweet daughter is with Hamiltons today. This is the only place I would trust for her because you were once part of their team. David was and you are extraordinary people. Your sister in grief...
Karen Wiedemeier
02/11/2016
David Hurd was one of the best CEOs that Principal Financial Group has ever had. His business vision was in the future, but even more so was his caring for the welfare of the employees. His caring for the community is beyond compare. He will be greatly missed. May he RIP and may his family find comfort in all of the good memories of him and the accomplishments that will continue into the future as his legacy.
Debra Garner
02/10/2016
Dear Trudy,
I sit with you in grief and sorrow. David introduced me to all I know and experienced through my PI international travel. He gave me wings to see the world. My heart goes out to you. Peace and love to you. Debi
Joe Galloway
02/10/2016
I was the beneficiary of one of David's unpublicized activities, ultrarunning. As a founder of the Gray's Lake 24-Hour Run, he introduced me to the sport which I continue to participate in many years later, and in which my son now participates. We say Thank You David, and Happy Trails....