John C. Kleczka
Wisconsin Circuit Judgefor the 2nd Circuit, Branch 6
In office April 4, 1930 – January 1, 1953
Appointed by	Walter J. Kohler Sr.
Preceded by	Edward T. Fairchild
Succeeded by	Francis X. Swietlik
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromWisconsin's4th district
In office March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1923
Preceded by	William J. Cary
Succeeded by	John C. Schafer
Member of theWisconsin Senate from the8th district
In office January 4, 1909 – January 6, 1913
Preceded by	Julius Edward Roehr
Succeeded by	Alexander E. Martin
Personal details
Born	May 6, 1885 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died	April 21, 1959(1959-04-21) (aged 73) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Saint Adalberts Cemetery, Milwaukee
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Wanda H. Kleczka
Alma mater	Marquette University

John Casimir Kleczka (May 6, 1885 – April 21, 1959) was aPolish American lawyer, judge, andRepublican politician fromMilwaukee, Wisconsin. He was a member of theUnited States House of Representatives for the66th and67th congresses, and was the first Polish American elected to congress. He later served as aWisconsin circuit court judge inMilwaukee County for nearly 23 years.

Born inMilwaukee, Wisconsin, Kleczka attended the parochial schools. He was graduated fromMarquette University,Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1905. He took postgraduate courses atCatholic University atWashington, D.C., and at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison, studying law. He was admitted to the bar in 1909 and commenced practice in Milwaukee.

He served in theWisconsin State Senate 1909–1913.^[1] He served as delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1912. He served as commissioner of the circuit court of Milwaukee County 1914–1918. He was a major judge advocate in theUnited States Army Reserves after theFirst World War.

Kleczka was elected as aRepublican to theSixty-sixth andSixty-seventh congresses (March 4, 1919 – March 4, 1923) as the representative ofWisconsin's 4th congressional district, after taking the Republican nomination away from incumbentWilliam J. Cary, who had been one of 50 representatives who voted against declaring war on Germany.^[2] He did not seek renomination in 1922 but returned to the practice of law.

After retirement, Kleczka was electedcircuit court judge in 1930 and served until his retirement due to ill health in 1953. He was appointed a conciliation judge and court commissioner by the circuit judges in 1957 and served until his death.

He died inMilwaukee, Wisconsin, April 21, 1959.^[3] He was interred in St. Adalbert's Cemetery.

• United States Congress."John C. Kleczka (id: K000260)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

• 1885 births
• 1959 deaths
• American Roman Catholics
• Catholic University of America alumni
• Wisconsin circuit court judges
• Republican Party Wisconsin state senators
• University of Wisconsin Law School alumni
• Marquette University alumni
• United States Army officers
• Military personnel from Wisconsin
• United States Army personnel of World War I
• American politicians of Polish descent
• Polish-American history
• Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin
• 20th-century Wisconsin state court judges
• Politicians from Milwaukee
• 20th-century Wisconsin politicians
• 20th-century United States representatives
• 20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature

• Articles with short description
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• Use mdy dates from July 2020