Kenneth Merkel

Kenneth John Merkel (August 9, 1926 – April 23, 2012[1]) was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly for the 99th district.

Kenneth Merkel
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Waukesha 1st district
In office
1965–1973
Succeeded bydistrict dissolved
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 99th district
In office
1973–1975
Preceded bydistrict created
Succeeded bySusan Jane Shannon
Personal details
Born(1926-08-09)August 9, 1926
Marshfield, Wisconsin
DiedApril 23, 2012(2012-04-23) (aged 85)
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Clemie
EducationMarquette University

Biography

Merkel was born on August 9, 1926, in Marshfield, Wisconsin to Wendelin and Marie Merkel. After graduating from Marshfield High School, Markel served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. After being discharged in 1945, Merkel briefly attended Michigan State College before graduating from Marquette University in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Merkel worked as an electrical engineer at Kearney & Trecker Co.[1][2][3][4]

Political career

Merkel was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1964, representing Waukesha County's First Assembly District. After redistricting in 1972, he was reelected to represent the 99th District in the Assembly.

Merkel was a member of the John Birch Society and a fierce defender of Senator Joseph McCarthy, even after his death. At a ceremony marking the tenth anniversary of Senator McCarthy's death, Merkel was a featured speaker, stating that "McCarthyism, a derogatory term coined by the press, is our reminder of Joe's great fight against Communism. You and I are going to have to carry on the work of the great Sen. McCarthy."[5]

Merkel's house in Brookfield, Wisconsin was the target of picketing led by Father James Groppi several times 1969, given Merkel's support for cuts to welfare. After the second round of picketing at his house, Brookfield adopted an ordinance prohibiting residential picketing; when protesters returned the following week to picket, they were promptly arrested.[6]

Merkel retired from the assembly in 1974. After Merkel declared that he would not run for re-election to the Assembly, Governor Patrick Lucey appointed him to a seat on the Wisconsin State Elections Board, the predecessor to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, in July 1974, where he served for several years.[7][8] Merkel also served as an alderman for the city of Brookfield, Wisconsin.[1]

References
  1. "Kenneth Merkel obituary". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  2. "The State: The state of Wisconsin 1973 Blue Book: Biographies and pictures".
  3. "U.S> World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 for Kenneth John Merkel". Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com, LLC. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  4. "U.S> 1930 Federal Census". Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com, LLC. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  5. "Appleton Service Honors McCarthy". Post-Crescent. 1967-05-08. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  6. "Groppi Leads Welfare March". Oshkosh Northwestern. 1969-09-22. Retrieved 2020-09-20. Groppi and march leaders were arrested outside the home of Kenneth J. Merkel, a Republican assemblyman and a John Birtch Society member who had helped pilot welfare cutbacks through the legislature.
  7. "Lucey Puts Merkel on Election Board". Waukesha Freeman. 1974-07-08. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  8. "Adamany to Head Elections Board". Waukesha Freeman. 1976-07-21. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
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