S. Michael Wilk ’61

Mike died March 3, 2016, after a short illness. Born and raised in Kenosha, Wis., he was the first in his family to attend college. Mike majored in biochemistry and rowed freshman year. He was a member of Hillel, the Glee Club, the Pre-Med Society, and the Outing Club. He took his meals at Dial Lodge and roomed senior year with John Bowers, Bayley Silleck, and Don DeBrier.

Following Princeton Mike graduated from the University of Michigan Law School, returning to Kenosha to practice law in a firm of which he was named partner. In 1994 he was elected to the newly formed Kenosha County Circuit Court Branch Seven, where he served proudly for 22 years until his death. The list of civic, legal, and philanthropic organizations Judge Wilk served in Kenosha and Wisconsin is very long. He was also a National Ski Patroller for 37 years, right up to 10 days before he died, among many other interests and activities.

Mike is survived by his wife of 53 years, Joan; daughter Dr. Deborah Wilk and her husband, Steve Burnham, and their children Jacob and Simon; and son Judge David Wilk and his wife, Lynn, and their children, Jackson and Audrey.