John Plewa

John R. Plewa (September 22, 1945 – September 13, 1995) was an American educator and Democratic politician from Wisconsin. He served 10 years in the Wisconsin State Senate and 12 years in the State Assembly, representing Milwaukee. Plewa is most well-known for authoring Wisconsin's 1988 family and medical leave law.[1]

John R. Plewa
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 7th district
In office
November 13, 1984 – September 13, 1995
Preceded byJerry Kleczka
Succeeded byRichard Grobschmidt
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
January 3, 1983 – November 12, 1984
Preceded byVernon W. Holschbach
Succeeded byDale Bolle
Constituency2nd district
In office
January 1, 1973 – January 3, 1983
Preceded byDistrict established
Succeeded byJames F. Rooney
Constituency20th district
Personal details
Born(1945-09-22)September 22, 1945
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedSeptember 13, 1995(1995-09-13) (aged 49)
John L. Doyne Hospital
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, U.S.
Cause of deathCancer
Resting placeSt. Adalbert Cemetery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSusan
Children2 sons
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Whitewater (B.S.)
Professionteacher, politician

Biography

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Plewa graduated from Milwaukee's Don Bosco High School in 1963. He went on to earn his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater in 1968. Following his graduation, he worked as a teacher at the Milwaukee Area Technical College and was a member of the United Steelworkers union.[2]

In 1970, he was a candidate in a four-way primary which unseated incumbent state senator Leland McParland, losing to Kurt Frank. In 1972, Plewa was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly serving until 1984, when he was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in a special election after incumbent Jerry Kleczka was elected to the Congressional seat long held by Clement Zablocki.[3][4]

He was a member of the Cudahy Jaycees, and the United Steelworkers Union.[5] The Lake Parkway of Wisconsin Highway 794 was named in memory of Senator Plewa.[6]

References
  1. "Family leave author Plewa dies". Wisconsin State Journal. September 15, 1995. p. 23. Retrieved January 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Plewa, John R. 1945". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  3. "Plewa, John R. 1945". Archived from the original on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2009-11-26.
  4. "1995-1996 Wisconsin Legislature Documents" (PDF). Legis.state.wi.us. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
  5. The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1985-86 edition, Members of the State Legislature, Page 34.
  6. Christopher J. Bessert. "Milwaukee Freeways: Lake Freeway". Wisconsin Highways. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
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