2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-3486/1
CMH:ajk&wlj
June 12, 2025 - Introduced by Senators Smith, Carpenter, Ratcliff, Hesselbein, Wirch, Spreitzer and James, cosponsored by Representatives Emerson, Sinicki, Phelps, Stroud, Murphy, Palmeri and Roe. Referred to Committee on Senate Organization.
SJR69,1,2
1Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Representative Terrence A.
2“Terry” Willkom. SJR69,1,53Whereas, Representative Terry Willkom, a dedicated public servant, business 4executive, and father, passed away in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on May 16, 2025, at 5the age of 82; and SJR69,1,76Whereas, Terry Willkom was born on February 23, 1943, in Boyd, Wisconsin, 7the son of Oswald and Leone Willkom and brother of Larry and Lynn; and SJR69,1,108Whereas, Terry Willkom graduated from McDonell High School in Chippewa 9Falls in 1960 and went on to receive a degree in business administration with a 10minor in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire in 1966; and SJR69,1,1411Whereas, Terry Willkom was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly and served 12from 1971 to 1976 and at the age of 32 was one of the youngest members ever 13elected as majority leader, serving in the role from 1975 to 1976, all while sporting 14his trademark cowboy boots that he started wearing at the age of five; and SJR69,2,8
1Whereas, Terry Willkom was actively involved in several legislative 2committees, including the Assembly Committees on Excise and Fees, Highways, 3Natural Resources, and Organization; the Joint Committees on Employee 4Relations, Finance, Interim, and Legislative Council; and as vice chair of the 5Assembly Committees on Rules, Taxation, and Third Reading and the Joint 6Committee on Legislative Organization, and was on the Council on Criminal 7Justice, the Interstate Cooperation Commission, and the Legislative Council 8Special Committee on Liability of Health Professionals; and SJR69,2,139Whereas, Terry Willkom, in 1975, highlighted that the most challenging 10aspect of being a legislator was managing an ever-increasing workload while also 11struggling with time away from his young family, becoming the first known 12legislator in Wisconsin history to move his family to Madison during the school 13week, with the family returning to his district on the weekends; and SJR69,2,2314Whereas, Terry Willkom, in addition to his career in the assembly, held many 15positions throughout his life, including as a pinsetter at Boney’s Bowling Alley in 16Boyd for 10 cents an hour in his youth, a researcher at 3M in Minneapolis in 1963, 17a business manager at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls in 1968, the deputy 18secretary of health and social services from 1977 to 1981, the director of the 19Northern Center for the Developmentally Disabled from 1984 to 1989, the vice 20president of the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School Board from 1989 to 1990, the 21acting president of Rex Systems from 1989 to 1990, the president and COO of Cray 22Computer in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1990, and the director of the Wisconsin 23Innovation Network in 2001; and SJR69,3,224Whereas, Terry Willkom enjoyed tennis, fishing, ice fishing, hunting,
1genealogy, raising and showing Irish Setters, and equestrian activities with his 2treasured horse, Cinco; and SJR69,3,73Whereas, Terry Willkom was a loving husband to Sharon for nine years and to 4his second wife, Susan, for 43 years. He was a devoted father to his children, Mary 5Catherine, Michelle, and Allen, and to his stepchildren, Jill and Jay. He was also a 6proud grandfather to Christopher and Lu and to his step-grandchildren, Flint, 7Jack, and Annabelle, and was an adoring godfather to Molly; and SJR69,3,98Whereas, Terry Willkom will be remembered for honesty, integrity, and ability 9to work with both sides of the aisle; now, therefore, be it SJR69,3,1310Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of 11the Wisconsin Legislature honor the life and public service of Representative 12Terrence A. “Terry” Willkom and extend their condolences to his family and 13friends.
