Russel R. Weisensel (December 23, 1931 – January 5, 2013) was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Biography

Weisensel was born on December 23, 1931, in Columbus, Wisconsin. He attended the

University of Wisconsin-Extension A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...

program. While in the Wisconsin State Assembly, Weisensel supported bills for the disabled. He became a wheelchair user as a result of a farm accident on October 7, 1961. Weisensel died on January 5, 2013, at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.

Career

Weisensel was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in November 1966 as a Republican, when he defeated

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

Paul Villar and

Jerome L. Blaska Jerome L. Blaska (July 4, 1919 – May 2, 2000) was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. Biography Blaska was born on July 4, 1919, in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin to John M. Blaska and Rose Schuster Blaska. His father, John, was also a member of ...

, who ran as an Independent. In November 1968, he defeated

Harland E. Everson Harland E. Everson (July 16, 1917 in Vernon County, Wisconsin – September 11, 1992) was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. After graduating from Sparta High School (Wisconsin), Sparta High School in Sparta, Wisconsin, he attended Geor ...

to retain his seat. In November 1970, he lost to Harland E. Everson, thus ending his career in the State Assembly. He worked for the Wisconsin

Agribusiness Agribusiness is the industry, enterprises, and the field of study of value chains in agriculture and in the bio-economy, in which case it is also called bio-business or bio-enterprise. The primary goal of agribusiness is to maximize profit w ...

Council and served as its First Executive Director until his retirement in 2000. Weisensel was a lifelong agricultural champion. As an advocate for physically and mentally handicapped persons he established groundbreaking accommodations and services. Weisensel was recognized as the Wisconsin Handicapped Person of the Year in 1968; the

University of Wisconsin–River Falls The University of Wisconsin–River Falls (UW–River Falls or UWRF) is a public university in River Falls, Wisconsin. It is part of the University of Wisconsin System. The campus is situated on the Kinnickinnic River in the St. Croix River ...

Honorary Recognition in 1993; and the University of Wisconsin–Madison Honorary Recognition in 1997. Weisensel's wife Mary (née: Devine) ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly as a Republican in November 1980, however she was defeated by Democratic incumbent,

Thomas A. Loftus Thomas A. Loftus (born April 24, 1945)Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (comp.). State of Wisconsin 1989-1990 Blue Book'. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Administration, 1989, p. 53. is a retired American diplomat and politician from Wiscon ...

Other

On May 20, 2009, a road was named in their honor in the Town of Bristol,

Dane County, Wisconsin Dane County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 561,504, making it the second-most populous county in Wisconsin. The county seat is Madison, which is also the state capital. Dane County is the ...

. The road, named Russ & Mary Court, is located off Twin Lane Road, just south of Hwy. 151.May 28, 2009 edition of The Star, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Weisensel, Russel People from Columbus, Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly 1931 births 2013 deaths