Kenneth John Merkel (August 9, 1926 – April 23, 2012[1]) was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly for the 99th district.
After graduating from Marshfield High School, Markel served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II.
After being discharged in 1945, Merkel briefly attended Michigan State College before graduating from Marquette University in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Merkel was a member of the John Birch Society and a fierce defender of Senator Joseph McCarthy, even after his death.
At a ceremony marking the tenth anniversary of Senator McCarthy's death, Merkel was a featured speaker, stating that "McCarthyism, a derogatory term coined by the press, is our reminder of Joe's great fight against Communism.