{{short description|20th century American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = John R. Plewa | image = | state = Wisconsin | state_senate = Wisconsin | district = 7th | term_start = November 13, 1984 | term_end = September 13, 1995 | preceded = Jerry Kleczka | succeeded = Richard Grobschmidt | office1 = Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly | constituency1 = 2nd district | term_start1 = January 3, 1983 | term_end1 = November 12, 1984 | predecessor1 = Vernon W. Holschbach | successor1 = Dale Bolle | constituency2 = 20th district | term_start2 = January 1, 1973 | term_end2 = January 3, 1983 | predecessor2 = ''District established'' | successor2 = James F. Rooney | party = Democratic | birth_date = {{birth date|1945|9|22}} | birth_place = Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1995|9|13|1945|9|22}} | death_place = John L. Doyne Hospital<br />Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, U.S. | death_cause = Cancer | resting_place = St. Adalbert Cemetery, {{nowrap|Milwaukee, Wisconsin}} | spouse = Susan | children = 2 sons | alma_mater = University of Wisconsin–Whitewater {{small|(B.S.)}} | profession = teacher, politician }}
'''John R. Plewa''' (September 22, 1945{{spaced ndash}}September 13, 1995) was an American educator and Democratic politician from Wisconsin. He served 10 years in the Wisconsin State Senate and 12 years in the State Assembly, representing Milwaukee. Plewa is most well-known for authoring Wisconsin's 1988 family and medical leave law.<ref name="obit">{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68238502/obituary-for-plewa-plewa-aged-49/ |title= Family leave author Plewa dies |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= September 15, 1995 |page= 23 |accessdate= January 22, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com }}</ref>
==Biography==
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Plewa graduated from Milwaukee's Don Bosco High School in 1963. He went on to earn his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater in 1968. Following his graduation, he worked as a teacher at the Milwaukee Area Technical College and was a member of the United Steelworkers union.<ref name="wihist">{{cite web|url= https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS11868 |title= Plewa, John R. 1945 |website= Wisconsin Historical Society |accessdate= January 22, 2021 }}</ref>
In 1970, he was a candidate in a four-way primary which unseated incumbent state senator Leland McParland, losing to Kurt Frank. In 1972, Plewa was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly serving until 1984, when he was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in a special election after incumbent Jerry Kleczka was elected to the Congressional seat long held by Clement Zablocki.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=3029&search_term=plewa# |title=Plewa, John R. 1945 |access-date=2009-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611153419/http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=3029&search_term=plewa# |archive-date=2011-06-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.wi.us/1995/data/SJR37.pdf |title=1995-1996 Wisconsin Legislature Documents |publisher=Legis.state.wi.us |date= |accessdate=2018-07-17}}</ref>
He was a member of the Cudahy Jaycees, and the United Steelworkers Union.<ref>The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1985-86 edition, ''Members of the State Legislature'', Page 34.</ref> The Lake Parkway of Wisconsin Highway 794 was named in memory of Senator Plewa.<ref>{{cite web|author=Christopher J. Bessert |url=http://www.wisconsinhighways.org/milwaukee/lake.html |title=Milwaukee Freeways: Lake Freeway |publisher=Wisconsin Highways |date= |accessdate=2018-07-17}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Find a Grave|67158271}}
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-wi-hs}} |- {{s-non|reason = New district }} {{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 20th district}} |years= January 1, 1973{{spaced ndash}}January 3, 1983 }} {{s-aft|after = James F. Rooney }} {{s-bef|before = Vernon W. Holschbach }} {{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 2nd district}} |years= January 3, 1983{{spaced ndash}}November 12, 1984}} {{s-aft|after = Dale Bolle }} {{s-par|us-wi-sen}} {{s-bef|before = Jerry Kleczka }} {{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 7th district}} |years= November 13, 1984{{spaced ndash}}September 13, 1995 }} {{s-aft|after = Richard Grobschmidt }} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Plewa, John R.}} Category:Politicians from Milwaukee Category:University of Wisconsin–Whitewater alumni Category:Members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Category:Wisconsin state senators Category:1945 births Category:1995 deaths Category:20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature