Bruce F. Beilfuss

Bruce Frederich Beilfuss (January 8, 1915 – August 18, 1986) was an American lawyer and judge from Wisconsin. He was the 22nd Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, serving from 1976 to 1983, and served 19 years on the Supreme Court prior to his time as Chief Justice.

The Honorable

Bruce F. Beilfuss
22nd Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
In office
May 24, 1976 – July 31, 1983
Preceded byHorace W. Wilkie
Succeeded byNathan Heffernan
Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
In office
January 1, 1964 – July 31, 1983
Preceded byTimothy Brown
Succeeded byWilliam A. Bablitch
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 17th Circuit
In office
April 15, 1948 – January 1, 1964
Appointed byOscar Rennebohm
Preceded byEmery Crosby
Succeeded byLowell D. Schoengarth
District Attorney of Clark County
In office
January 2, 1941 – April 15, 1948
Preceded byHugh F. Gwin
Succeeded byClarence Gorsegner
Personal details
Born
Bruce Frederich Beilfuss

(1915-01-08)January 8, 1915
Withee, Wisconsin, US
DiedAugust 18, 1986(1986-08-18) (aged 71)
Middleton, Wisconsin, US
Resting placeMiddleton Junction Cemetery, Middleton, Wisconsin
Spouse(s)
  • Helene B. Hendrickson
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1941; died 1960)​
  • De Ette Knowlton
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1961; died 2016)​
Children
  • Mark Beilfuss
  • (b. 1950)
  • Karen Johnson
  • (b. 1940, died 2015)
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1943–1946
Rank Lieutenant J.G.
Battles/warsWorld War II

Biography

Born in Withee, Wisconsin, Beilfuss graduated from Neillsville High School in 1932. Beilfuss then received his bachelors of economics (1936) and law (1938) degrees from the University of Wisconsin.[1] He served on the Clark County, Wisconsin, Board of Supervisors and was district attorney of Clark County. During World War II, Beilfuss served in the United States Navy as a PT Boat Commander in the South Pacific. In 1953, Beilfuss was elected a Wisconsin Circuit Court judge. In 1963, he was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, reelected in 1973 and became chief justice of the court in 1976, retiring in 1983.[1][2]

Beilfuss was active outside the judiciary. He served as chair on the Board of Visitors of the University of Wisconsin Law School, was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and a founder of the Dane County Big Brothers program.

References
  1. "Former justices - Bruce F. Beilfuss (1915-1986)". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  2. "Beilfuss, Bruce F. 1915". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Hugh F. Gwin		 District Attorney of Clark County, Wisconsin
1941 – 1948		 Succeeded by
Clarence Gorsegner
Preceded by
Emery Crosby		 Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 17th Circuit
1948 – 1964		 Succeeded by
Lowell D. Schoengarth
Preceded by
Timothy Brown		 Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
1964 – 1983		 Succeeded by
William A. Bablitch
Preceded by
Horace W. Wilkie		 Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
1976 – 1983		 Succeeded by
Nathan Heffernan
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