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State Rep. Bob Gannon passes away
State Rep. Bob Gannon passes away
MADISON -- State Rep. Bob Gannon, a West Bend Republican in his second term, has died. His body was found Tuesday night, October 3rd near a boat launch in the Town of West Bend. He was 58 years old.
Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke's aide, Alesha Potter, said Gannon's family informed Steineke that Gannon died of natural causes.
"Bob would come down to my office, and he would say, 'what's going on, guys? What can you tell me?' He always wanted to be in the know. He was always anxious to do his job well," said State Senator Duey Strobel (R-Saukville).
Bob Gannon
Those who knew Gannon reflected on his life on Wednesday, October 4th.
"He was such a character. He never held back. He knew exactly how he felt," said Jeff Szukalski, owner of Jeff's Spirits on Main.
Gannon was found dead inside a pick-up truck just before 9:00 p.m. Tuesday. It was parked at the Gonring Boat Launch near Big Cedar Lake in the Town of West Bend.
Gonring Boat Launch
"It's difficult to believe when you hear something like that initially. You can't wrap your head around it," said Jim Geldrich, chairman of the Washington County Republican Party.
Geldrich said he remembers when Gannon decided to run for the Wisconsin Assembly.
"He wanted to continue the conservative spirit and representation we've had in this area for so long," said Geldrich.
Before running for the seat, the past Rotary Club of Milwaukee president, who ran an insurance company, was already heavily involved in the West Bend community.
"He was passionate about doing the Jazz Fest up here and bringing so many people, outsiders to West Bend, and show off this city," said Szukalski.
Senator Strobel, who shares some of Gannon's constituents, said he'll miss his passion.
"He wasn't always the most P.C. (politically correct) guy in the world but, you know, it was from the heart," said Strobel.
Gannon was first elected in 2014 and built a reputation as pro-gun and tough on crime, threatening to drop membership in the West Bend Sunshine Rotary Club because the group wouldn't sponsor gun or knife shows. He also defended the Department of Corrections for placing children in solitary confinement at the state's youth prison, saying they earned it.
Bob Gannon
His tenure included giving then-Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca the finger last year during floor debate after Barca took issue with Gannon remarks on Milwaukee's homicide rate.
Gannon apologized at House Speaker Robin Vos' urging.
Below is a list of statements issued by colleagues in the Wisconsin Legislature and other officials:
Gov. Scott Walker
Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke
Bob Gannon
State Rep. John Nygren
Republican Party of Wisconsin
State Rep. Janel Brandtjen
Rep. Bob Gannon
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos
State Sen. Duey Stroebel
State Rep. Cindi Duchow
State Sen. Leah Vukmir