2001 Senate Joint Resolution 49
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: the life and public service of Nile W. Soik.
Whereas, Nile W. Soik was born on May 2, 1923, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and died on August 3, 2001, in Whitefish Bay; and
Whereas, he graduated from Riverside High School; received a B.S. degree in engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1945, graduating in the top 10% of his class; and earned an M.B.A. degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1951, and a Ph.D. degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York; and
Whereas, he served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Philippines; and
Whereas, he worked as a trainer in the human resources department at Allen-Bradley Company and taught courses at Marquette University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Lakeland College, Milwaukee Technical College, and Cardinal Stritch University; and
Whereas, he was elected to the assembly in 1960 and served from 1961 to 1969, and then was elected to the senate in 1968 and served from 1969 to 1973; and
Whereas, he served as chairperson of the assembly Labor Committee and the Legislative Council's Nuclear Facilities Committee; and
Whereas, he introduced a bill in the 1971 legislature relating to the right to die with dignity and permitting every person to "refuse and deny the use or application by any person of artificial, extraordinary, extreme or radical medical or surgical means or procedures calculated to prolong his life," 12 years before living-will legislation was adopted in this state; and
Whereas, he worked for years as a volunteer counselor on a crisis hotline, was active in his church, and served as a delegate at synodal events of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; and
Whereas, he was an outdoors enthusiast who loved canoeing, hiking, fishing, and hunting, and first met his wife of 51 years, Carol, at a Hoofers meeting at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and
Whereas, he believed strongly in the traditions of integrity, excellence, sacrifice, and self-discipline; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature commend the devoted public service of Nile W. Soik to this state, express their sorrow at his death, and extend condolences to his family and friends; and, be it further
Resolved, That the senate chief clerk shall provide copies of this joint resolution to Mr. Soik's wife, Carol, and his sons, Matthew and Paul.
