John Plewa Explained

John R. Plewa
State:Wisconsin
State Senate:Wisconsin
District:7th
Term Start:November 13, 1984
Term End:September 13, 1995
Preceded:Jerry Kleczka
Succeeded:Richard Grobschmidt
Office1:Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Constituency1:2nd district
Term Start1:January 3, 1983
Term End1:November 12, 1984
Predecessor1:Vernon W. Holschbach
Successor1:Dale Bolle
Constituency2:20th district
Term Start2:January 1, 1973
Term End2:January 3, 1983
Predecessor2:District established
Successor2:James F. Rooney
Party:Democratic
Birth Date:22 September 1945
Birth Place:Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Death Place:John L. Doyne Hospital
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, U.S.
Death Cause:Cancer
Restingplace:St. Adalbert Cemetery,
Spouse:Susan
Children:2 sons
Profession:teacher, politician

John R. Plewa (September 22, 1945September 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]

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]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. News: Family leave author Plewa dies . . September 15, 1995 . 23 . January 22, 2021 . .
  2. Web site: Plewa, John R. 1945 . . January 22, 2021 .
  3. Web site: Plewa, John R. 1945 . 2009-11-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110611153419/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=3029&search_term=plewa# . 2011-06-11 . dead .
  4. Web site: 1995-1996 Wisconsin Legislature Documents . Legis.state.wi.us . 2018-07-17.
  5. The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1985-86 edition, Members of the State Legislature, Page 34.
  6. Web site: Christopher J. Bessert . Milwaukee Freeways: Lake Freeway . Wisconsin Highways . 2018-07-17.