George Marzeck worked for nearly 40 years tring to persuade lawmakers to name the Channel Catfish as the Iowa state fish. When the bill came up again in April, it once again failed, leaving Marzeck’s and other’s dream unrealized.

‘‘It is dead for the year,’’ said Rep. Paul Bell, D-Newton, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. ‘‘There are too many amendments and they’re making a joke out of everything, so we’re not even going to attempt anything.’’

Marzeck, along with seven other men started the push and as one by one the other men have past on, Marzeck kept pushing for their dream by writing letters and promoting the change with his own money. Marzeck died in September 2006 at the age of 82.

His wife, 81-year-old June, said she was disappointed but not surprised by the Legislature’s decision.

‘‘I certainly would hope that someday it would happen for George’s sake,’’ she said. ‘‘He worked so hard trying to have it happen and he won’t be trying any more since he’s gone. I hope that people there in Des Moines some day see fit to do that.’’

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State fish bill dies in Legislature