Former U.S. congressman and Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge Gerald J. Boileau was born on January 15, 1900 at Woodruff, Wisconsin. After living in Vilas County until the age of nine, he moved with his parents to Minocqua where he attended elementary and high school. Boileau left school before graduating to enlist as a private in the Army during World War I. He served one year with Battery D of the 11th Field Artillery, participating in the Meuse Argonne campaign in October 1918. While overseas Boileau began his legal training at the AEF University. He was discharged as a corporal in June, 1919. After his return to Wisconsin, Boileau attended Marquette University, receiving his law degree in 1923. In 1925 he married Monica McKeon (1903-1990).
Boileau was appointed assistant district attorney of Marathon County, and in 1926 was elected as district attorney. In this position he was the first full time district attorney in Wisconsin outside Milwaukee. During this period he was active in Progressive Republican politics and he served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Kansas City. In the fall of 1930 Boileau was elected to Congress, becoming the youngest man in that house. During the four terms he served Boileau achieved prominence as the floor leader of the Progressive-Farmer/Labor bloc. After his defeat in 1938 Boileau returned to his private law practice in Wausau. In 1942 Boileau defeated Circuit Court Judge Claire B. Bird, an unprecedented victory over an incumbent judge. He served on the bench for nearly forty years. During his judicial career Boileau served on several important professional committees. He played a major role in the revision of the Wisconsin Criminal Code and in preparing uniform jury instructions given to defendants who pled guilty. Judge Boileau did not retire when he reached the normal retirement age in 1970. Instead he continued as a reserve judge in Milwaukee and Kenosha counties. He died in Madison on January 30, 1981.
