2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-3669/1
CMH:skw
July 9, 2025 - Introduced by Senators Smith, Ratcliff and Spreitzer, cosponsored by Representatives Moses, Phelps, Sinicki, Stroud, Brown, DeSmidt, Murphy, Roe and Subeck. Referred to Committee on Senate Organization.
SJR76,1,1
1Relating to: honoring the life and public service of Senator Bruce S. Peloquin. SJR76,1,42Whereas, Senator Bruce Peloquin, a dedicated public servant, business 3executive, and school psychologist, passed away in Eau Claire on October 2, 2024, at 4the age of 87; and SJR76,1,65Whereas, Bruce Peloquin was born on November 3, 1936, in Chippewa Falls, 6the youngest of Anna and Frank Peloquin’s 10 children; and SJR76,1,107Whereas, Bruce Peloquin graduated from McDonell Central Catholic High 8School in Chippewa Falls in 1954 and went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in 9business administration in 1966 and a master’s in school psychology in 1973 from 10the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire; and SJR76,1,1411Whereas, Bruce Peloquin’s first forays into public service were his two 12unsuccessful runs for the Chippewa Falls City Council, losing the second race by a 13mere seven votes, followed by his tenure on the Chippewa County Board from 1962 14to 1965; and SJR76,2,3
1Whereas, Bruce Peloquin was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 1964, 2serving from 1965 to 1971, and was only the second Democrat in the 20th century to 3hold the seat from Chippewa County; and SJR76,2,74Whereas, Bruce Peloquin served on the Assembly Committees on Education, 5Tourism, Elections, Public Welfare, and Review of Administrative Rules, as well as 6the Committee to Visit State Institutions, the Joint Interim Committee, and the 7Council on Traffic Law Enforcement; and SJR76,2,178Whereas, Bruce Peloquin was elected to the Wisconsin Senate and served 9from 1971 to 1979 with appointments to the Joint Committee on Finance; the 10Senate Committees on Education, Audit, Government and Veterans’ Affairs, and 11Health, Education and Welfare; the Education Commission of the States; the 12Minnesota-Wisconsin Boundary Area Commission Legislative Advisory 13Committee; the Interim Study Committee on Campus Funding and Faculty Salary 14Equity in the University of Wisconsin System; the Environmental Education 15Council; the Special Committee on Education Program Review Project; and 16Legislative Council committees on education, the school aid formula, and 17compulsory attendance; and SJR76,2,2218Whereas, Bruce Peloquin’s proudest legislative achievements included his role 19in strengthening child abuse laws, requiring public schools to provide special 20education, requiring public schools to employ reading specialists, aligning state 21statute with the state constitution’s guarantee of free public education, and 22supporting the foster grandparent program; and SJR76,3,323Whereas, in addition to being a legislator, Bruce Peloquin was a “jack of all 24trades,” having worked on a cement crew; tended bar at Glen Loch Saloon; co-owned
1the Bloomer golf course; been employed at Mason Shoe, Uniroyal Tires, and 3M; and 2served as a licensed school psychologist at public schools in Greenwood, New 3Auburn, Gilman, and Cameron; and SJR76,3,54Whereas, Bruce Peloquin enjoyed golf, card games, back-road travels, 5auctions, antiques, flea markets, birdwatching, and nature; and SJR76,3,106Where, Bruce Peloquin was an accomplished woodworker, spending years 7deconstructing 14 barns from around Wisconsin and a pickle factory in Chippewa 8Falls to salvage materials for the “recycled house” that he lived in with his wife, and 9constructing the timber cross that now stands at Round Hill, a sacred site in the 10community of Arkansaw; and SJR76,3,1211Whereas, Bruce Peloquin was a loving husband to Nancy and a devoted father 12to his children, Simone, Traci, and Dean; and SJR76,3,1413Whereas, Bruce Peloquin will be remembered for wit, wisdom, and generosity; 14now, therefore, be it SJR76,3,1715Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of 16the Wisconsin Legislature honor the life and public service of Senator Bruce S. 17Peloquin and extend their condolences to his family and friends.
