South Australian independent MP Bob Such has died from a brain tumour at the age of 70.

His wife, Lyn, said she and some of Dr Such's family were with him when he died at the Daw Park Hospice yesterday.

She said the family was devastated at their loss.

"Bob was such a lovely man and I will miss him dearly," she said.

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill said Dr Such was a "kind and thoughtful man who dedicated his life to public service".

"I spoke to Lyn and offered my sincere condolences to her and her family and passed on the South Australian community's gratitude for Bob's extraordinary contribution to public life."

Dr Such had requested a private funeral.

Mr Weatherill's statement said a more public celebration of his life would be organised at later date.

Dr Such had been the Member for Fisher, south of Adelaide, since 1989 and served during the Dean Brown Government as the minister for employment and minister for youth affairs and as a deputy speaker.

He introduced numerous bills, including the anti-hoon and spent conviction laws.

He represented the Liberal Party until 2000 before becoming an independent.

In 2002 Such was elected deputy speaker, and then later in his career in 2005 was elected speaker of the House of Assembly.

Before entering politics, Dr Such was a lecturer in politics, economics and the environment.

He made a surprise visit to the opening day of the South Australian Parliament despite being on medical leave in May.

Just days after the March election he was diagnosed with having a brain tumour.

'A parliamentarian of great dignity and principle'

State Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said Dr Such would be remembered for his extraordinary contribution to the community.

Mr Marshall said Dr Such was a parliamentarian of great dignity and principle, and his contribution to state politics would endure.

"He was a man of great integrity," Mr Marshall said.

"He was hard working, he was passionate, he was positive about the contributions South Australians could make and he worked every day to make this a better place."

Politicians and political commentators took to social media to express their condolences for Dr Such.

Many praised his dedication to serving the community in his role as Member for Fisher for 25 years.

Former premier Mike Rann said Dr Such would be remembered for his decency and for his advocacy for awareness, research and early intervention in prostate cancer.

"In all my years in parliament, in negotiations over legislation or forming government, there was never a trace of rancour or malice from Bob Such," Mr Rann said.

Political commentator with Flinders University Professor Hayden Manning said Dr Such would be remembered as a diligent independent, who always looked closely at legislation from the position between Liberal and Labor.

"It's that lesson that there is a place for independent MPs," Professor Manning said.

"They have to work exceedingly hard to retain their seats but it can be done and I think Bob Such is a fine example of how that's done."

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