Herbert Schowalter

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Herbert Schowalter
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Ozaukee County district
In office
January 6, 1969 – January 1, 1973
Preceded byJ. Curtis McKay
Succeeded byDistrict abolished
Personal details
Born(1927-03-30)March 30, 1927
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedMarch 23, 1998(1998-03-23) (aged 70)
Mesa, Arizona, U.S.
Cause of deathPancreatic cancer
Resting placeQueen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, Mesa, Arizona
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Geraldine Margaret Sinnen
​
​
(m. 1949⁠–⁠1998)​
Children3
EducationDeVry Technical Institute
OccupationElectrical engineer
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1945–1946
1951–1952
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War

Herbert Joseph Schowalter (March 30, 1927 – March 23, 1998) was an American electrical engineer and Republican politician from Saukville, Wisconsin. He served two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Ozaukee County during the 1969 and 1971 sessions.

Biography[edit]

Herbert Schowalter was born March 30, 1927, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As a child, he moved with his parents to Saukville, Wisconsin, and graduated from Port Washington High School in 1945. Immediately after graduating from high school, Schowalter enlisted in the United States Navy for service in World War II.[1] After returning from the war, he began his career with the Square D company, but returned to school in 1949, moving to Chicago to pursue a degree in electrical engineering from DeVry Technical Institute, using the G.I. Bill. But as he was preparing to graduate in 1951, he was recalled to service in the U.S. Navy due to the Korean War.[1][2]

After his second stint in the Navy, Schowalter returned to work at Square D, which was his primary employer for the rest of his career. Schowalter was active in local affairs as a member of the American Legion, the Catholic church community, and chamber of commerce. He entered elected office for the first time in 1961, when he became a member of the Saukville village board.[1]

In 1968, incumbent state representative J. Curtis McKay chose not to run for re-election to the Wisconsin State Assembly. Schowalter entered the race for the Republican Party nomination in the district, which then comprised just his native Ozaukee County. He faced only one opponent in the Republican primary and prevailed with 83% of the vote.[3] He went on to win 63% of the vote in the November 1968 general election and began his legislative service in the 79th Wisconsin Legislature.[4] He was re-elected in 1970,[5] and was regarded as a promising new member of the Republican conference,[6] but he announced in 1972 that his employer, Square D, was transferring him out of state. He used his personal circumstances to accuse Democrats of pursuing policies in the state which drove employers to flee. Schowalter had advocated for a right-to-work law in Wisconsin earlier during the 1971 legislative session.[7]

Shortly after the end of the 1971 legislative session, he relocated to Knightdale, North Carolina, where he resided for ten years. While in North Carolina, he developed neurological symptoms that were eventually diagnosed as Multiple Sclerosis, which soon forced his retirement.[2] He subsequently moved to Mesa, Arizona, in 1983, and remained there until his death from pancreatic cancer in 1998.[8] By the time of his cancer diagnosis in 1996, he was already nearly completely paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair due to his multiple sclerosis.[2]

Personal life and family[edit]

Herbert Schowalter married Geraldine Margaret Sinnen of Belgium, Wisconsin, on June 4, 1949.[9] They were both active in the Catholic church in each community where they resided. They had three daughters together and were married for nearly 49 years before his death in 1998.[8]

Electoral history[edit]

Wisconsin Assembly (1968, 1970)[edit]

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1968[4] Primary Sep. 10 Herbert Schowalter Republican 2,086 82.81% Howard H. Lotze Rep. 433 17.19% 2,519 1,653
General Nov. 5 Herbert Schowalter Republican 12,753 63.42% Marvin H. Huiras Dem. 7,357 36.58% 20,110 5,396
1970[5] Primary Sep. 8 Herbert Schowalter (inc) Republican 3,070 83.88% Dennis L. Mattson Rep. 590 16.12% 3,660 2,480
General Nov. 3 Herbert Schowalter (inc) Republican 11,197 66.25% Michael J. Weber Jr. Dem. 5,705 33.75% 16,902 5,492

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Schowalter, Herbert J. 1927". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Obituary of Geraldine Margaret Sinnen Schowalter". Arizona Legacy Funeral Home. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  3. ^ "4 Assembly Candidates in Ozaukee". The Sheboygan Press. July 10, 1968. p. 24. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1970). "Elections in Wisconsin". The State of Wisconsin 1970 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 805, 820. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1971 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. 1971. pp. 304, 321. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  6. ^ Wyngaard, John; Wyngaard, Tim (April 30, 1972). "Democrats Hope to Unseat Keppler". The Post-Crescent. p. 21. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Schowalter Not to Seek Re-election to Assembly". The Sheboygan Press. March 1, 1972. p. 33. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b "Herbert J. Schowalter". The News & Observer. March 26, 1998. p. 30. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Miss Sinnen and Saukville Man are Wedded Saturday". The Sheboygan Press. June 3, 1949. p. 6. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Ozaukee County district
January 6, 1969 – January 1, 1973 		District abolished
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