AR11,,112023 ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 11 May 12, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives Kurtz, Novak, Spiros, Conley, Murphy, Subeck and Ohnstad. Referred to Committee on Rules.
AR11,,22Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Representative Joanne Duren. AR11,,33Whereas, Joanne Duren was a vocal and independent-minded member of the Wisconsin State Assembly who served her constituents in southwest Wisconsin from the 1971 to 1981 legislative sessions; and AR11,,44Whereas, Joanne Duren was born in Cazenovia, Richland County, Wisconsin, on October 11, 1931, to Frank and Henrietta Duren; and AR11,,55Whereas, after graduating from Madison Business College in 1950, Joanne Duren worked in various secretarial positions before operating her own secretarial business in the late 1960s; and AR11,,66Whereas, working as a secretary in the Wisconsin Legislature, Joanne Duren observed state government firsthand and was inspired to run for office; and AR11,,77Whereas, Joanne Duren won her bid to represent Iowa and Richland Counties in November 1970, becoming the first woman to represent both counties; and AR11,,88Whereas, Joanne Duren advocated for farmers, supporting a proposed constitutional amendment to assess agricultural lands differently for the purposes of imposing property taxes; and AR11,,99Whereas, Joanne Duren also successfully pushed for legislation establishing a state veterinary school and designating the dairy cow as the state’s domestic animal; and AR11,,1010Whereas, her other efforts included reforming capital gains taxes, limiting smoking in public places, requiring smoke detectors in new residences, and making mobile homes safer; and AR11,,1111Whereas, Joanne Duren served in Democratic caucus leadership and chaired various committees, including Tourism and Economic Development and State-Federal Relations; and AR11,,1212Whereas, Joanne Duren was fiercely independent, committed to the Democratic Party but willing to break with Democrats on controversial issues; and AR11,,1313Whereas, throughout her career, Joanne Duren kept her constituents informed of the activities of the legislature on her Sunday morning Assembly Reports radio broadcast; and AR11,,1414Whereas, after losing her bid for reelection in November 1982, Joanne Duren served as the Chief Clerk of the Wisconsin State Assembly during the 1983 and 1985 legislative sessions; and AR11,,1515Whereas, following her career as a public servant in Wisconsin, Joanne Duren moved to Tucson, Arizona, where she enriched her community with volunteer work at her church and other charitable organizations; and AR11,,1616Whereas, Joanne Duren passed away on November 26, 2022, at the age of 91; now, therefore, be it AR11,,1717Resolved by the assembly, That the members of the Wisconsin Assembly mourn the passing of Representative Joanne Duren and celebrate her accomplishments as a legislator.
