A life well lived

He was an atypical politician. More content on the sidelines than in the limelight, Herb Kohl was an effective U.S. Senator from Wisconsin who died this week at the age of 88. Before entering politics, Kohl served as President of the family-owned Kohls department store chain. He later became the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA, ensuring the team would remain in Milwaukee. Kohl was proud of the team he owned. I remember him often coming to La Crosse to talk about issues like dairy policy or other important issues in Washington. He was happy to talk about such things, but his face lit up and his excitement showed when he spoke of the Milwaukee Bucks. Kohl was a generous man, although he lived a simple life himself, often wearing the same tattered sport coat. He donated $100 million toward the construction of the Fiserv Forum, and donated $25 million toward the construction of the Kohl Center at UW Madison. As Senator he never accepted a pay raise, and donated what would have gone to his wallet back to the Treasury Department. It is good that before he died, Kohl got to see his beloved Bucks win a national championship. I can just imagine the smile on his face on that day. Kohl’s was a life well lived, and he will be missed.