Oscar Rennebohm

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Oscar Rennebohm

| image = Rennebohm Governor.jpg

| order1 = 32nd

| office1 = Governor of Wisconsin

| term_start1 = January 3, 1949

| term_end1 = January 1, 1951
Acting: March 12, 1947 – January 3, 1949

| lieutenant1 = George M. Smith

| predecessor1 = Walter Samuel Goodland

| successor1 = Walter J. Kohler Jr.

| order2 = 30th

| office2 = Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin

| term_start2 = January 4, 1943

| term_end2 = March 12, 1947

| governor3 = Walter Samuel Goodland

| predecessor3 = Walter Samuel Goodland

| successor3 = George M. Smith

| birth_date = {{birth date|1889|05|25}}

| birth_place = Leeds, Wisconsin, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1968|10|15|1889|05|25|mf=yes}}

| death_place = Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.

| resting_place = Forest Hill Cemetery
Madison, Wisconsin

| party = Republican

| spouse = {{marriage|Mary Fowler|1920}}

| children = 1

| alma_mater = University of Wisconsin

| profession = Pharmacist
Politician

| signature =

| branch = United States Navy

| serviceyears =

| battles = World War I

| unit =

| rank = Ensign

| website =

| status =

}}

Oscar Rennebohm (May 25, 1889 – October 15, 1968) was an American politician and pharmacist who served as the 32nd governor of Wisconsin. He previously served as lieutenant governor and assumed the office of governor in 1947 on the death of Governor Walter S. Goodland.

Early life

Born in Leeds, Wisconsin, in Columbia County,{{cite news|title=Oscar Rennebohm, 79, State, Civic Leader, Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81208437/oscar-rennebohm-1889-1968/ |newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal |date=October 16, 1968 |location=Madison, WI |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81208437/oscar-rennebohm-1889-1968/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81208873/oscar-rennebohm-1889-1968/ 4] |via = Newspapers.com |access-date=July 11, 2021}} {{Open access}}{{cite web|url= http://www.wishistory.com/May25.html |title= May 25 |website= Wisconsin History Day By Day |access-date= December 5, 2020 }} Rennebohm moved with his family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when he was ten. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1911, after which he worked as a pharmacist and, in 1912, he founded Rennebohm Drug Stores under a Rexall franchise. He was vice-president of the American Pharmaceutical Association, president of the Wisconsin Pharmaceutical Association and a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin.

Career

During World War I, he attended officer candidate school and was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy.

In 1945, Rennebohm was elected the 30th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin. When Governor Walter Goodland died shortly after his third term began, Rennebohm succeeded him, winning election to the governorship in 1948.[http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/renaud-republican.html The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Renate to Requa] During his tenure as governor, Rennebohm began a veterans' housing program financed by an increased liquor tax. In 1949, he founded the Rennebohm Foundation, which supports education in the Madison area. The school of pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is named after Rennebohm.{{cite web |url= https://news.wisc.edu/new-pharmacy-building-opens/ |title= New pharmacy building opens |website=University of Wisconsin–Madison |date= September 18, 2001 |access-date= November 3, 2020}} Additionally, Rennebohm Park, located near the Hill Farms area, is also named after Rennebohm.{{Cite web |title=Park visionaries {{!}} The Madison Parks Foundation |url=https://madisonparksfoundation.org/visionaries |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=madisonparksfoundation.org |language=en}}

Death

File:Grave of Oscar Rennebohm (1889–1968) at Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, WI.jpg

Rennebohm retired and died in Madison, Wisconsin, on October 15, 1968 (age 79 years, 143 days). He is interred at Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Wisconsin.{{cite news|title=Oscar Rennebohm Services Set Thursday Afternoon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81285251/oscar-rennebohm-1889-1968/ |newspaper=The Capital Times |date=October 16, 1968 |location=Madison, WI |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81285251/oscar-rennebohm-1889-1968/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81285256/oscar-rennebohm-1889-1968/ 4] |via = Newspapers.com |access-date=July 12, 2021}} {{Open access}}