Lynn E. Stalbaum

Lynn Ellsworth Stalbaum (May 15, 1920 – June 17, 1999) was an American farmer, businessman, World War II veteran and Democratic politician from Racine County, Wisconsin. He served one term in the United States House of Representatives, representing Wisconsin's 1st congressional district in the 89th Congress from 1965 to 1967.

He previously served ten years in the Wisconsin Senate. His elder brother, Merrill E. Stalbaum, served in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Biography

Stalbaum was born on a farm in the town of Norway, Wisconsin, near Waterford, in Racine County.

World War II In 1944, he enlisted in the United States Navy, in the midst of World War II. He served in the Pacific War aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer and participated in the invasion of Luzon in 1945. He was discharged after the end of the war, in 1946, and returned to Wisconsin, where he worked for several years as a feed salesman.

In 1954 he was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate (reelected in 1958 and 1962), where he served as caucus chairman in 1957, 1959, and 1961, and as assistant minority leader in 1963.

Congress In 1964, Stalbaum announced that he would challenge incumbent Republican congressman Henry C. Schadeberg. He faced a competitive primary and defeated former state senator Gerald T. Flynn with 55% of the vote. He then went on to upset Schadeberg in the 1964 general election, receiving 51.5% of the general election vote in a Democratic wave year.

Retirement After losing in 1968, Stalbaum remained in the Washington, D.C., area and resided in Bethesda, Maryland, for the rest of his life. He worked as a legislative consultant to rural electric and dairy cooperatives from 1968 until his retirement in 1985.

Personal life and family Lynn Stalbaum was the youngest of three children born to John Martin and Amanda ( Ebert) Stalbaum. Both parents were natives of Wisconsin, and the Stalbaum farm had belonged to the family since 1854. Lynn's older brother, Merrill E. Stalbaum, also served in the Wisconsin Legislature as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and overlapped with Lynn Stalbaum's service during the 1961 and 1963 legislative sessions, making them the only siblings to serve together in the Wisconsin Legislature until Scott and Jeff Fitzgerald in 2001–2013. Unlike the Fitzgerald brothers, Merrill and Lynn Stalbaum had opposing political beliefs and often clashed.

Lynn Stalbaum married Alice Gunderson on April 29, 1950. They had two sons and two daughters and were married for 34 years before her death from cancer in 1984.

Death Lynn Stalbaum died at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., on June 17, 1999, due to complications from leukemia.

Electoral history Wisconsin Senate (1954, 1958, 1962)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 1954 General Democratic 22,892 55.61% Rep. 18,273 44.39% 41,165 4,619 1958 General Democratic 27,916 64.80% Rep. 15,164 35.20% 43,080 12,752 1962 General Democratic 28,549 61.45% Rep. 17,910 38.55% 46,459 10,639

U.S. House (1964, 1966, 1968)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 1964 Primary Democratic 20,293 55.44% Dem. 16,310 44.56% 36,603 3,983 General Republican 65,041 51.04% Dem. 62,398 48.96% 127,439 2,643 1968 Primary Democratic 18,215 73.50% Dem. 6,567 26.50% 24,782 11,648 General Republican 89,200 50.89% Dem. 86,067 49.11% 175,267 3,133