About Us

Welcome to the Wisconsin Division of the Izaak Walton League of America!

The Wisconsin Division of the Izaak Walton League of America is one of the nation's oldest and most respected conservation organizations. The Wisconsin Division was formed to assist, compliment, and support the local chapters of Wisconsin. The Division is currently composed of eight (8) chapters dedicated to protecting our nation's soils, air, woods, waters and wildlife at the grassroots level. The Wisconsin Division is governed by a board of directors that includes representatives from the Division's chapters. The Division also offers the local chapters direct contact with the National Headquarters through our two National Directors. The Division can further offer support to the local chapters by drawing on a wide base of experts statewide.

Every IWLA member in Wisconsin is automatically a member of the Wisconsin Division.
We hold quarterly business meetings. The meetings are hosted by our chapters.
The Wisconsin State Convention is held annually in the spring. That meeting is used for regular business and to prepare chapter and Division submitted resolutions and awards to the national IWLA office for discussion and action at the National Convention held every July.
Every Wisconsin member in good standing is welcome and encouraged to attend at all state meetings and conventions.

The Wisconsin Division Trust also offers grants to chapters and local conservation groups to support their conservation projects; requests for these grants are due by December 31st of each year and are awarded at the Division's annual meeting in April. See our "Grants" page for more information.

The Wisconsin Division is a non-profit conservation organization and is recognized as a Section 501(c)(3) public charity under the Internal Revenue Code.

If you have questions or comments please feel free contact us at:

Mike Fuge, President of the Wisconsin Division IWLA

mtfuge1984@rocketmail.com

(715) 219-3676 (cell); (715) 344-8796 (home)

The Pledge of the Izaak Walton League of America

To strive for the purity of water, the clarity of the air, and the wise stewardship of the land and its resources; to know the beauty and understanding of nature, and the value of wildlife, woodlands and open spaces; to the preservation of this heritage and to man’s sharing in it. I pledge myself as a member of the Izaak Walton League of America.

Division's Past Accomplishments

The Wisconsin Division has a long-standing tradition in leadership. The Division and its members have a lot of accomplishments that it is proud of, including:

Assisted in the creation of
- Apostle Island National Lakeshore
- Horicon National Wildlife Area
- Upper Mississippi River Wild River and Scenic Waterways
- Boundary Waters Canoe Area
- Rainbow Lake Wilderness Area
- Chequamegon National Forest
- Ice Age Trail
Wetland and prairie restoration projects across the state
Stream restoration projects
Started the Young Wisconsin Conservation Program

Division Board of Directors

Current Officers of Wisconsin Division (expires August 31, 2026)

Mike Fuge, President
Pete Danen, Vice President
Al Othmer, Treasurer
Marion Lovel, Secretary

Current Board of Directors of Wisconsin Division

Gerald Ernst, Board Member (expires August 31, 2027)
Ronald MacDonald, Board Member (expires August 31, 2027)
Gary Stephenson, Board Member (expires August 31, 2027)
Jen Smith, Board Member (expires August 31, 2027)
Todd Brumm, Board Member (expires August 31, 2027)
Jeanne Agneessens, Board Member (expires August 31, 2026)
Liz Roy, Board Member (expires August 31, 2026)
Ron Church, Board Member (expires August 31, 2026)
Lee DeBruin (expires August 31, 2026)
Phil Cooper (September 1, 2025 - August 31, 2026)
George Guyant, Past President
Steve Labs, National Director (expires 2026)
Ron Church, National Director (expires 2028)
Jodi Labs, Chapter Representative (Brown County Chapter)
Eric Lovel, Chapter Representative (Southwestern Chapter)
Stephen Klein, Chapter Representative (Bill Cook Chapter)

Division Bylaws

Wisconsin Division Bylaws (2021).pdf

History / Involvement with Horicon Marsh

In the 1920s, Wisconsin chapters of the Izaak Walton League began fighting to save the marsh. The goal was simple: to rebuild the dam for partial flooding of the marsh, not to restore it fully to a lake, but also not to let it lie a wasteland. Restoring the area back to natural marsh water levels by counteracting the draining effects of the ditches could be achieved by using a dam and/or blocking ditches. The Izaak Walton League worked extensively with the legislature in Madison for seven years to pass two bills, and a long legal battle ensued. Many hearings were held, and petitions were signed by 115,000 people in Wisconsin and presented to the governor. Personal investigations were made, and the marsh became a battle ground of national interest. Over the course of the fight, the Horicon chapter and the Izaak Walton League mailed out 110,000 booklets, sponsored radio broadcasts, and received the support of 256 Wisconsin newspapers. Members made long and extensive appearances at hearings at the county, state legislature and Supreme Court.

On April 20, 1925, the Izaak Walton League and its marsh chapter held a celebration of its victory to save Horicon Marsh! Duck Liberation Day was dedicated to “The Dawn of a New Day for Wild Life on Horicon Marsh” and was attended by 5,000 people. They released 1,300 domestic ducks in the marsh as live decoys to rebuild waterfowl numbers. The ducks were bought from near and as far as California, Mexico, Iowa, and Michigan. Joe Penner, the famous national radio star and supporter of restoring the marsh, personally sent 500 ducks from New York. The event received unanimous support from the media, sports and civic clubs, Federated Women’s clubs, educators, and all conservation-minded people. School bands from Beaver Dam, Waupun, Mayville, Juneau, Oconomowoc, Horicon, and the Boy’s Tech School of Milwaukee performed. Local school children and teachers arrived, all bringing ducks! The governor and other officials gave speeches on the merits of conservation and the need of teaching it in schools.

Division Past Presidents

1923 - 1924 Henry M. Graass (Green Bay)

1924-1925 Haskell Noyes (Milwaukee)

1925-1927 Sherman Brown (Milwaukee)

1927-1929 William J.P. Aberg (Madison)

1929-1930 Herman Berndt (Fond du Lac)

1930-1931 Harold Pugh (Racine)

1931-1933 Oscar Weber (Stevens Point)

1933-1934 H.C. Kuehn (Milwaukee)

1934-1935 Louis Radke (Horicon)

1935-1938 A.G. Langenbach (West Bend)

1938-1939 Dr. A.R. Cook (Stevens Point)

1939-1940 C.G. Stangel (Manitowoc)

1940-1941 Herman C. Runge (Sheboygan)

1941-1943 A.D. Sutherland (Fond du Lac)

1943-1946 Henry Noble (Beloit)

1946-1948 Bill Cook (Stevens Point)

1948-1950 A.D. Sutherland (Fond du Lac)

1950-1951 Virgil Muench (Green Bay)

1951-1952 Dr. A.M. Buechel (Fond du Lac)

1952-1953 Bill Cook (Stevens Point)

1953-1954 Arthur Molstad (Milwaukee)

1954-1955 James Spindler (Manitowoc)

1955-1956 Jerry Cutts (Stevens Point

1956-1957 Arthur Kaftan (Green Bay)

1957-1958 Austin Smith (Manitowoc)

1958-1960 Warren M. Bach (Manitowoc)

1960-1961 James L. Quinn (Green Bay)

1961-1962 Fred Stamm (Green Lake)

1962-1963 Ed Branson (Green Bay)

1963-1965 Al Mertens (Manitowoc)

1965-1970 Mike Borden (Milwaukee)

1970-1973 Bill Fisk (Brown County)

1973-1975 Art Freiheit (Green Lake)

1975-1976 Ed Bruggink (Cedar Grove)

1976-1977 Orvel Theyerl (Fond du Lac)

1977-1979 Herb Guetzlaff (Watertown)

1979-1980 Karl Dix (Sheboygan)

1980-1982 Bob Elliker (Bill Cook)

1982-1984 Herb Guetzlaff (Watertown)

1984-1987 Will Lehner (Bill Cook)

1987-1988 Ray Kliss (Brown County)

1988-1989 Gary Ward (Southwest)

1989-1992 Jerry Ernst (Bill Cook)

1992-1995 Terry Sheffer (Southwest)

1995-1997 Tom Gustin (Bill Cook)

1997-1999 Jeanne Agneessens (Brown County)

1999-2003 Bob Elliker (Bill Cook)

2003-2004 George Guyant (Bill Cook)

2004-2007 Gerald Ernst (Bill Cook)

2007-2009 Lyle Nauman (Bill Cook)

2009-2014 George Guyant (Bill Cook)

2014-2017 Peter Daanen (Brown County)

2017-2018 George Guyant (Bill Cook)

2018-present Mike Fuge (Bill Cook)

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