ARGYLE - Wayne Wilson's life has been filled with meetings, local government, politics and involvement that even he didn't see coming. It wasn't always his plan to be so involved with his community and county - but once he started, it was as if local government called to him.

Wilson has always felt drawn to helping people and being involved. He was born in Lafayette County, in the Wiota area, and attended a country school before going to school in Darlington. His family had a dairy farm just west of Wiota with about 160 acres and about 50 cows.

He was part of a large family - he had 9 siblings - and was expected to help out. There was little opportunity for him at home, and at age 15, Wilson went to live with neighbors to help on their farm. They had no children and needed assistance with their dairy farm - and they treated Wilson as their own.

Although he said he missed being at home at first, the couple became like second parents to him. They lived about three miles from his home.

"I missed home but there was no opportunity there for me," Wilson recalled. "These people were good to me."

Wilson said he enjoyed school and played football and basketball, although he wasn't able to play football his senior year because he was needed on the farm. He is a 1957 graduate of Darlington High School.

After high school, Wilson headed to Madison to get a job at a University of Wisconsin residence hall, where he was learning to be a meat cutter. He worked with a man who was in the Army Reserve, and Wilson decided it was exactly what he wanted to do.

He enlisted in the Army Reserve April 2, 1962 and was stationed in the U.S. He was with the hospital unit, where he began as a cook and then took on hospital administration for 22 years, running an Army hospital.

He and his wife Marne were married in 1964 after meeting at a dance in Gratiot. They have a daughter, Lisa. The family lived in Madison and Stoughton before moving back to Wiota in 1976.

The military life was exactly what Wilson wanted, and he said he enjoyed his time. He didn't know anyone when he enlisted but quickly adjusted.

"The military - you either like it or you hate it," Wilson said. "I liked it."

In 1990 Wilson was working as a milk tester in Madison for the Dairy Herd Improvement Association, a post he held for 13 years before getting called to Desert Storm in December. His unit was in Kuwait and eventually went to Iraq.

He then worked for the Wisconsin Counties Association as a lobbyist for farm issues. He lobbied at the Capitol on issues affecting farmers - convincing legislators to help them. He would often take farmers with him and said it was a job that made him realize just how hard-working and dedicated farmers are. He took on that post for just two years until his retirement at age 65.

Eventually, Wilson also reached the Army retirement age and was notified that his career in the Reserves was ending.

"I didn't want to get out," he said. "I liked the professionalism of it, the opportunity to advance and the camaraderie." He retired Sept. 7, 1999.

His plan after that took a different turn.

"I was going to get out of politics, fish and enjoy life," Wilson said with a smile. "But it didn't work out like that."

Wilson had served on the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors since his election in 1982. Politics had always interested him, and the couple he was raised with were devoted Republicans.

He enjoyed serving Lafayette County. The board chairman at the time, Dick McKnight from South Wayne, took Wilson under his wing and showed him the ropes of county government. In 1986, Wilson became the board chairman, a post he held for 14 years.

"I like to work for people and help solve problems for them," Wilson said.

But in 2001, when Wilson and his family moved to Argyle, a friend was already serving on the county board from the area, and Wilson didn't want to run against him. In 2004, when his friend decided not to run, Wilson was elected again and has served as the finance chairman since.

He also serves on the Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Board, a seat he's had for 20 years. He is the chair of the Claims Committee and Loss Prevention, providing liability coverage for 52 counties in the state. He is the president of Greenco Industries in Monroe, a post he's held for about 25 years, and served as president for eight of them. He is the president of the Southwest Library Board in Fennimore and has been since 1984. He's also spent eight years on the Township Board of Supervisors. Wilson is a past president of the Wisconsin Counties Association, spending three years on that board.

Marne has never seemed to mind her husband being busy with so many meetings and obligations. She is also a very involved person so they seem to work well together, he said.

Wilson also serves the town he lives in and has been the Argyle village president for the past 14 years. He decided recently that he will end his tenure in April to focus on his health. He hopes a new person with fresh ideas will step up to the plate and take over.

As for the county board, Wilson said he has until Dec. 1 to decide whether or not he'll run again.

"I can't give up everything," Wilson said. "Then life, in my opinion, is over. You have to try and stay active."

Wilson's idea of relaxing is fishing along the Yellowstone, Pecatonica or Mississippi river with a friend or just his pipe. He also loves to attend high school football games and play cards with friends. He used to be a hunter but stopped a few years ago. He also enjoys spending time with his daughter and grandson, Jack.

"Treat people with respect," Wilson said of words he's stood by over the years.

"You might not agree with them but you can listen and treat them with respect."