Former Rhinelander Mayor Richard “Dick” Johns died Monday at the Wisconsin VA Home in King, his family has announced. He was 93. Johns, a Rhinelander native who served as mayor from 2005 to 2018, devoted more than 50 years of his life to local government. Prior to his promotion to the mayor’s office, he was a city alderman for nearly 40 years.
“In those days, council members were, by default, also elected to the Oneida County Board,” an obituary posted on the Carlson Funeral Home website reads. “Dick served on the Parks and Recreation Board, he garnered support and cultivated relationships that enabled him to help establish such projects as Nicolet Technical College and Tri-County Mental Health Services, serving as its chairman for 18 years.”
During his 13 years in the mayor’s office, Johns “led the fight to obtain multi-million-dollar funding for the wastewater treatment plant completed in 2012, the implementation of the Premier Area Resort Tax to improve the city’s transportation infrastructure, the historical mural in City Hall, responding to requests from citizens…always listening with an open mind and compassionate heart,” the obituary reads. “On behalf of the city of Rhinelander, Mayor Johns accepted a gift of Green Bay Packer memorabilia donated by the Bill Spars family. He raised funds for display cases to house the collection at the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport for visitors and locals to enjoy.”
Johns, a veteran of the Korean War and a Purple Heart recipient, is survived by his sons, Lance and Thomas, his grandson Andrew, and two great-grandchildren along with many other relatives and friends. According to the obituary, funeral arrangements are not yet complete.
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