Bruce F. Beilfuss

Bruce Frederich Beilfuss (January 8, 1915 – August 18, 1986) was an American lawyer and judge from Wisconsin. He was the 22nd Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, serving from 1976 to 1983, and served 19 years on the Supreme Court prior to his time as Chief Justice.

The Honorable Bruce F. Beilfuss
22nd Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
In office May 24, 1976 – July 31, 1983
Preceded by	Horace W. Wilkie
Succeeded by	Nathan Heffernan
Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
In office January 1, 1964 – July 31, 1983
Preceded by	Timothy Brown
Succeeded by	William A. Bablitch
Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge for the 17th Circuit
In office April 15, 1948 – January 1, 1964
Appointed by	Oscar Rennebohm
Preceded by	Emery Crosby
Succeeded by	Lowell D. Schoengarth
District Attorney of Clark County
In office January 2, 1941 – April 15, 1948
Preceded by	Hugh F. Gwin
Succeeded by	Clarence Gorsegner
Personal details
Born	Bruce Frederich Beilfuss January 8, 1915 Withee, Wisconsin, US
Died	August 18, 1986 (aged 71) Middleton, Wisconsin, US
Resting place	Middleton Junction Cemetery, Middleton, Wisconsin
Spouse(s)	Helene B. Hendrickson ​ ​ (m. 1941; died 1960)​ De Ette Knowlton ​ ​ (m. 1961; died 2016)​
Children	Mark Beilfuss ^(b. 1950) Karen Johnson ^(b. 1940, died 2015)
Alma mater	University of Wisconsin
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1943–1946
Rank	Lieutenant J.G.
Battles/wars	World War II Pacific War

Biography

Born in Withee, Wisconsin, Beilfuss graduated from Neillsville High School in 1932. Beilfuss then received his bachelors of economics (1936) and law (1938) degrees from the University of Wisconsin.[1] He served on the Clark County, Wisconsin, Board of Supervisors and was district attorney of Clark County. During World War II, Beilfuss served in the United States Navy as a PT Boat Commander in the South Pacific. In 1953, Beilfuss was elected a Wisconsin Circuit Court judge. In 1963, he was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, reelected in 1973 and became chief justice of the court in 1976, retiring in 1983.[1][2]

Beilfuss was active outside the judiciary. He served as chair on the Board of Visitors of the University of Wisconsin Law School, was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and a founder of the Dane County Big Brothers program.

References

1. "Former justices - Bruce F. Beilfuss (1915-1986)". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
2. "Beilfuss, Bruce F. 1915". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved September 7, 2020.

External links

• Bruce F. Beilfuss at Ballotpedia