LRB-4932/1
CGR:jlg:jf
May 2000 Special Session
1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE
May 4, 2000 - Introduced by Representative Hebl.
AR1,1,1 1Relating to: the life and public service of Jerome L. Blaska.
AR1,1,32 Whereas, Jerome L. Blaska was born in the town of Sun Prairie on July 4, 1919,
3and died in Sun Prairie on May 2, 2000; and
AR1,1,64 Whereas, Mr. Blaska served in the Army in World War II from 1942 to 1946 in
5the Aleutian Islands, and was an active member of VFW Post #333 and the American
6Legion Post in Sun Prairie after the war; and
AR1,1,107 Whereas, Mr. Blaska married Helen Curl of Burlington, IA on February 7,
81948, and raised a large and achievement-oriented family, ran an innovative farm,
9was immersed in the civic life of his community, and was actively involved in the
10state's political scene; and
AR1,1,1411 Whereas, Jerome served in the Wisconsin state legislature, as had his father,
12John M. Blaska (1949 session), and was first elected in a special election on April 7,
131959, to represent the Dane County — 4th District in the state assembly, and
14reelected to serve in the 1961, 1963 and 1965 sessions; and
AR1,2,6
1Whereas, throughout his tenure in the assembly, he was a member of the
2agriculture committee (vice chairperson, 1959 session), highways committee
3(chairperson, 1965 session), transportation committee, commission on interstate
4cooperation, legislative council agriculture committee (1959), tobacco marketing
5committee (1961), and highway advisory and conservation land purchases
6committees (1963-65); and
AR1,2,87 Whereas, while serving as highway committee chairperson, Mr. Blaska played
8a pivotal role in completing the interstate highway system in this state; and
AR1,2,109 Whereas, he served on the National Tobacco Industry Advisory Council in 1964;
10and
AR1,2,1311 Whereas, Jerome served as an usher at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
12Church in Sun Prairie, and was a member of the Holy Name Society, the Catholic
13Order of Foresters and the Knights of Columbus; and
AR1,2,1614 Whereas, Mr. Blaska was a founder of the Island Church Foundation, which
15maintains the church his German-Bohemian great grandparents helped build
16southeast of Waterloo in 1863; and
AR1,2,2017 Whereas, he received national recognition for his lifetime achievements when
18he was chosen as one of 100 people, one born in each year of the 20th Century on the
194th of July, pictured in the Photo of the Century, taken on July 4, 1999, in front of
20Independence Hall in Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it
AR1,2,22 21Resolved, That the members of the Wisconsin assembly acknowledge the long
22years of service to Wisconsin by Jerome L. Blaska; and, be it further
AR1,3,3 23Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide copies of this resolution
24to his daughter, Jane Swodzinski of Neshkoro; his sons, J. Michael Blaska of
25Marshall, David Blaska of Madison, William Blaska of Reeseville, and Richard

1Blaska of San Francisco, California; his brothers, Gregory Blaska of Sun Prairie and
2Cyril Blaska of Oconomowoc; and his sisters, Elaine Wood of McFarland, and Evelyn
3Owens, Lila La Barro, and Burdette Blaska, all of Sun Prairie.
AR1,3,44 (End)
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