Gregg Underheim was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin on August 22, 1950. Underheim graduated from La Crosse Central High School and attended the University Wisconsin – La Crosse, graduating with a Bachelors of Science degree in 1972. Afterward, Underheim served as a congressional aide to Congressman Thomas Petri, and taught high school English in Caledonia, Minnesota. In 1987, Underheim joined the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 54th District of Oshkosh and the surrounding area, serving until the end of the 2006 term.
During his legislative career, Underheim played an active role in issues such as health care, education, and finance reform. In 1991, he served on the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee, and served as a ranking minority member on the Special Committee on Reform of Health Insurance. In 1993, Underheim served as a ranking minority member for the Special Committee on Health Care, and the Legislative Council Committee on Shared Governmental Services. In the same year, he served on the Insurance, Securities, and Corporate Policy Committee, which he served on again in 1997. In 1995, Underheim served on the Ways and Means Committee, and in 1997 he acted as Chairperson for the State/Federal Relations Committee. Also in 1997, Underheim served on the State Affairs Committee, and the Legislative Council Committee on School Discipline and Safety. In 1999, Underheim was a Co-Chairperson for the Legislative Council Committee on Arts Funding, a member of the Use of Prescription Drugs for Children Committee, and the Education Reform Committee, which he served on again in 2001, and in the same year acted as the Chairperson for the State and Local Finance Committee. In 2003 and 2005, Underheim served as Vice Chairperson on the Public Health Committee, which he had been a member of since 1999. Also in 2005, Underheim served his last term as the Chairperson of the Special Committee on Health Care Information, a position he had held since 1995. He also served for the last time on the Colleges and Universities Committee, the Corrections and the Courts Committee, and the Insurance Committee.
While serving in the Assembly, Underheim was best known for his work with health care reform and initiatives. He worked tirelessly on improving issues such as electronic patient records privacy, relation between insurers and providers, raising the quality of health care information access, legalizing medical marijuana, and legitimizing tissue donation. Underheim's work in the field of health care won him a lifetime recognition award from the Wisconsin Hospital Association in 2006.
Underheim has served as president of the Oshkosh Noon Kiwanis Club, and has been on the Board of Directors for both Sexual Abuse Services and the Oshkosh Symphony.
