May 2000 Special Session
Assembly Resolution 1
ENGROSSED RESOLUTION
Relating to: the life and public service of Jerome L. Blaska.
Whereas, Jerome L. Blaska was born in the town of Sun Prairie on July 4, 1919, and died in Sun Prairie on May 2, 2000; and
Whereas, Mr. Blaska served in the Army in World War II from 1942 to 1946 in the Aleutian Islands, and was an active member of VFW Post #333 and the American Legion Post in Sun Prairie after the war; and
Whereas, Mr. Blaska married Helen Curl of Burlington, IA on February 7, 1948, and raised a large and achievement-oriented family, ran an innovative farm, was immersed in the civic life of his community, and was actively involved in the state's political scene; and
Whereas, Jerome served in the Wisconsin state legislature, as had his father, John M. Blaska (1949 session), and was first elected in a special election on April 7, 1959, to represent the Dane County — 4th District in the state assembly, and reelected to serve in the 1961, 1963 and 1965 sessions; and
Whereas, throughout his tenure in the assembly, he was a member of the agriculture committee (vice chairperson, 1959 session), highways committee (chairperson, 1965 session), transportation committee, commission on interstate cooperation, legislative council agriculture committee (1959), tobacco marketing committee (1961), and highway advisory and conservation land purchases committees (1963-65); and
Whereas, while serving as highway committee chairperson, Mr. Blaska played a pivotal role in completing the interstate highway system in this state; and
Whereas, he served on the National Tobacco Industry Advisory Council in 1964; and
Whereas, Jerome served as an usher at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church in Sun Prairie, and was a member of the Holy Name Society, the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Knights of Columbus; and
Whereas, Mr. Blaska was a founder of the Island Church Foundation, which maintains the church his German-Bohemian great grandparents helped build southeast of Waterloo in 1863; and
Whereas, he received national recognition for his lifetime achievements when he was chosen as one of 100 people, one born in each year of the 20th Century on the 4th of July, pictured in the Photo of the Century, taken on July 4, 1999, in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, That the members of the Wisconsin assembly acknowledge the long years of service to Wisconsin by Jerome L. Blaska; and, be it further
Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide copies of this resolution to his daughter, Jane Swodzinski of Neshkoro; his sons, J. Michael Blaska of Marshall, David Blaska of Madison, William Blaska of Reeseville, and Richard Blaska of San Francisco, California; his brothers, Gregory Blaska of Sun Prairie and Cyril Blaska of Oconomowoc; and his sisters, Elaine Wood of McFarland, and Evelyn Owens, Lila La Barro, and Burdette Blaska, all of Sun Prairie.
