LRB-3940/1
CMH:cdc&amn
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
September 5, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Kurtz, Tranel, Novak, Allen,
Billings, Considine, Crowley, Dittrich, Duchow, Edming, Felzkowski,
Gruszynski, Gundrum, Hesselbein, Hintz, Horlacher, Katsma, Kerkman,
Kolste, Knodl, Krug, Kulp, Loudenbeck, B. Meyers, Milroy, Murphy,
Mursau, Neubauer, Neylon, Ohnstad, Oldenburg, Petryk, Pope, Plumer,
Pronschinske, Ramthun, Rohrkaste, Sargent, Schraa, Shankland, Sinicki,
Spiros, Spreitzer, Steffen, Steineke, Subeck, Summerfield, Tauchen,
Thiesfeldt, Tusler, VanderMeer, Vruwink, Wichgers, Wittke, Zamarripa
and Zimmerman, cosponsored by Senators Marklein, Carpenter, Cowles,
Darling, Jacque, Kapenga, Kooyenga, Miller, Nass, Olsen, Petrowski,
Ringhand, Roth and Wirch. Referred to Committee on Rules.
AJR81,1,2 1Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Representative Edward A.
2Brooks.
AJR81,1,53 Whereas, Edward “Ed” Brooks was a lifelong dairy farmer, loan officer, U.S.
4Army Reserve veteran, loving husband and father, proud grandfather, friend to all,
5and dedicated public servant; and
AJR81,1,86 Whereas, Ed was born on July 1, 1942, in Baraboo, Wisconsin, graduating from
7Webb High School (Reedsburg) in 1960, and graduating with a B.S. in Agricultural
8Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1965; and
AJR81,1,129 Whereas, Ed worked as a loan officer for Production Credit Association, and as
10a county supervisor with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a short time after
11graduating from UW-Madison, before returning to the farm and his true passion,
12dairy farming; and
AJR81,2,213 Whereas, Ed had many other roles throughout his career including 18 years as
14chair of a Wisconsin-based, multi-state dairy product cooperative, Foremost Farms

1USA, Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives chair, National Milk Producers Board
2vice-chair, 4-H Club leader, St. John Lutheran Church Council president; and
AJR81,2,53 Whereas, Ed began his foray into public service at the local level, elected to the
4Reedsburg Town Board in 1979, becoming Town of Reedsburg chair in 1985 and
5serving in that role for 34 years; and
AJR81,2,106 Whereas, Ed was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2008 and served
7as a state representative for the 50th Assembly District (which he referred to as the
8“Best Assembly District” simply because all his constituents made it the best) for five
9terms, representing Juneau County and parts of Monroe, Richland, Sauk, and
10Vernon Counties; and
AJR81,2,1611 Whereas, Ed served as the chairman of the Assembly Committee on Local
12Government in 2017-18, and chairman of the Assembly Committee on Urban and
13Local Affairs in 2011-16, championed rural and local affairs—working to see that
14residents in rural Wisconsin were recognized as a valuable resource to the state, and
15was an advocate for rural schools, funding for rural broadband and funding for town
16roads; and
AJR81,2,1917 Whereas, Ed married his loving wife, Barbara Wolfgram Brooks, in 1966,
18raising three daughters, Kelli, Lisa, and Julie, together during their marriage of 52
19years; and
AJR81,2,2320 Whereas, Ed's life on the farm kept him very busy, but when he did find time
21to get away, he enjoyed traveling by train, with Barb by his side. There were many
22adventures on Amtrak, as family time was very important to him, and he genuinely
23enjoyed visiting with people in the district; and
AJR81,3,3
1Whereas, Ed passed away on April 23, 2019, surrounded by his favorite ladies,
2and after a long and hard-fought battle with leukemia, to be forever with his Lord
3and Savior; now, therefore, be it
AJR81,3,6 4Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the
5Wisconsin State Legislature join in honoring the life and public service of Edward
6Brooks and extend their condolences to his family and friends.
AJR81,3,77 (End)
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