Roger Breske

Roger Breske was born November 8, 1938, in Elderon, Wisconsin, in eastern Marathon County. As a child, he attended school in the neighboring community of Wittenberg, Wisconsin, in Shawano County, and graduated from Wittenberg High School.{{cite report|url=https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/LVXTGFG6N2TVJ8P |title=State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1991–1992 |year= 1991 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |editor-last1= Barish |editor-first1= Lawrence S. |editor-last2= Theobald |editor-first2= H. Rupert |chapter= Biographies |page= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ALVXTGFG6N2TVJ8P/full/AFB5TKTIC3ABYD8Z 44] |accessdate= April 10, 2023 }} As a young man, he served in the United States Army Reserve. He became the owner of a tavern and restaurant known as "Breske's Bar", which he operated for more than 20 years.

Through his tavern business, he became active in the Tavern League of Wisconsin, one of the most powerful business lobbies in the state. He first became president of the Marathon County Tavern League, and was then elected president of the state organization in 1985.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wausau-daily-herald-breske-tavern-league/122641370/ |title= Breske elected Tavern League head |newspaper= Wausau Daily Herald |date= December 8, 1985 |page= 35 |accessdate= April 10, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }}

In 1990, Wisconsin state senator Lloyd H. Kincaid announced he would retire due to poor health before the end of his term, necessitating a special election that fall.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wausau-daily-herald-breske-state-senate/122642366/ |title= Elderon resident seeks Kincaid's Senate seat |newspaper= Wausau Daily Herald |date= July 25, 1990 |page= 3 |accessdate= April 10, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }} Breske entered the race for the Democratic Party nomination, and prevailed in the crowded five-person primary, receiving 39% of the vote.{{Cite report|url=https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/LVXTGFG6N2TVJ8P |title=State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1991–1992 |year= 1991 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |editor-last1= Barish |editor-first1= Lawrence S. |editor-last2= Theobald |editor-first2= H. Rupert |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ALVXTGFG6N2TVJ8P/full/ACK3YRJGMTWUQ68E 895], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ALVXTGFG6N2TVJ8P/full/AY7SNPVADSP2EH8H 912] |accessdate= April 10, 2023 }} Breske went on to win a close victory over his Republican opponent in the special election, which coincided with the November 6, 1990, general election.

Breske went on to win re-election in 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004. He was considered a more conservative member of the Democratic caucus, and sometimes frustrated his party leadership. Most notoriously, in 2008 Breske managed to derail a statewide smoking ban which had been a signature issue pushed by Democratic governor Jim Doyle.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-breske-kills-smo/122642591/ |title= Smoking ban deal rejected |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= January 31, 2008 |page= 23 |first= Scott |last= Bauer |accessdate= April 10, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }} The following Spring, Doyle appointed Breske to serve as Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-breske-rail-comm/122642755/ |title= Rail commissioner named |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= May 20, 2008 |page= 5 |first= Todd |last= Richmond |accessdate= April 10, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }} Breske accepted the appointment and resigned from the Senate in June 2008.{{cite journal|url= https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2007/related/journals/senate/20080604 |title= Petitions and Communications |date= June 4, 2008 |issue= Wednesday, June 4, 2008 |journal= State of Wisconsin Senate Journal |volume= Ninety-Eighth Regular Session |publisher= Wisconsin Legislature |accessdate= April 10, 2023 }}

Breske served until the end of his term, which ended on March 1, 2011, and did not seek re-appointment from the new Republican governor Scott Walker.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oshkosh-northwestern-plale-railroad/122643163/ |title= Walker names new railroad commissioner |newspaper= Oshkosh Northwestern |date= August 24, 2011 |page= 3 |accessdate= April 10, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }}

Breske died less than a year later, suffering a heart attack in his home on April 3, 2012.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-obituary-for-rog/122643287/ |title= Former State Sen. Breske, 73, dies |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= April 4, 2012 |page= 7 |accessdate= April 10, 2023 |via= Newspapers.com }}

Roger Breske married Karen Woznicki at St. Florian Catholic Church, in Hatley, Wisconsin, on April 25, 1959. They had four children together and were married for 53 years.{{cite news|url= https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wausaudailyherald/name/roger-breske-obituary?id=24032371 |title= Roger Breske |newspaper= Wausau Daily Herald |date= April 4, 2012 |via= Legacy.com |accessdate= April 10, 2023 }}

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070811014907/http://www.legis.state.wi.us/senate/sen12/news/ Senate website (Archived Aug. 11, 2007)] at Wisconsin Legislature

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{{s-bef|before = Lloyd H. Kincaid }}

{{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin Senate}} {{nowrap|from the 12th district}} |years= November 28, 1990{{spnd}}June 4, 2008 }}

{{s-aft|after = Jim Holperin }}

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{{s-bef|before = Rodney W. Kreunen }}

{{s-ttl|title = Wisconsin Commissioner of Railroads |years= May 28, 2008{{spnd}}March 2011 }}

{{s-aft|after = Jeffrey Plale }}

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Category:1938 births

Category:2012 deaths

Category:Businesspeople from Wisconsin

Category:People from Marathon County, Wisconsin

Category:People from Shawano County, Wisconsin

Category:Democratic Party Wisconsin state senators

Category:Military personnel from Wisconsin

Category:20th-century American businesspeople

Category:United States Army reservists

Category:21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature

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