By Joe Bachman
Multimedia Editor

PORTAGE COUNTY — Portage County Clerk Shirley Simonis has announced her retirement.

Simonis has served the Portage County community for over 43 years. She looks forward to retirement with family and friends.

Her letter of resignation is in full below:

Dear, Sheriff Lukas

Per Wisconsin Statutes, 17.01(7), I would like to inform you that I, Shirley M. Simonis, will be resigning my position as Portage County Clerk on January 2, 2020 to retire. Serving the people of Portage County has been an honor and a privilege. 

T have enjoyed my combined 43+ years of public service as the prior Deputy County Clerk and current Portage County Clerk. During my tenure I have worked with 6 County Board Chairs, 3 County Executives, 8 Sheriffs, 5 Clerk of Circuit Courts, 7 County Treasurers, 6 Register of Deeds, 2 previous County Clerks, approximately 144 municipal clerks, and many other officials and coworkers. I thank them for their support and collaboration. 

I would also like to thank current Chief Deputy County Clerk Kathy Genovese for her 41+ years of dedicated service in the County Clerk’s office as well as the other past and current County Clerk staff that have contributed in carrying out the statutory duties of the office of County Clerk with integrity and professionalism. 

While I look forward to enjoying my retirement with family and friends, I will miss serving the constituents of Portage County.