A Celebration of Life will be held in the chapel at EverTrue Concordia Village, Springfield, IL, on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 11 am, with a visitation at 10 am. Inurnment will be at Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield, IL, at a later date.
Richard was born to Arthur Joseph and Minerva Ann (Calhoun) Wisner January 18, 1935, in Waukegan, IL. He lived in Ingleside, IL, graduating from Grant Community High School in 1953, where he was a talented athlete lettering in 4 sports and serving as quarterback on the football team and captain of the basketball team. ‘Volunteering to be inducted’ he served in the U.S. Army in La Rochelle, France. Upon discharge he returned to the U.S. and married Arline R. Nelson on June 30th, 1956, in Waukegan. She survives.
After earning his Bachelor’s Degree from Illinois State Normal University he began his long career in education. He started at Downs High School, IL, as a business teacher, P.E. teacher, and bus driver. Eventually he became the principal of Downs Elementary School, principal of Ellsworth-Downs High School, and superintendent of newly consolidated Tri-Valley Schools, earning his Master’s in School Administration from ISU. He served as superintendent of Toulon-LaFayette (IL) Schools two years, and after 16 years at the local school level, he accepted a position with the Illinois Association of School Boards in Springfield, IL, as a field director, a position he held for 16 years before retiring in 1993.
Rich continued his love of sports and traveling throughout his entire life. He taught his family how to water ski, snow ski, fish, play cards and golf.
Golfing became his passion and over the course of his life he achieved 6 holes-in-one! He was also an avid cards player, excelling at "500" and Bridge, which he played until his stroke on October 3. He and Arline made sure the family took a vacation every summer, traveling the nation and creating many wonderful memories. Living on Lake Petersburg for 39 years, their grandchildren learned to ‘love the lake’, too. He and Arline traveled extensively in their retirement, often to Europe, especially France and domestic trips usually included rounds of golf. They moved to Concordia Village in 2016.
Rich was extremely proud of his family – daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He loved hearing about their lives as much as he loved telling stories of his. He was a man of integrity and he loved life. He was a happy spirit and will be deeply missed.
In addition to his wife of 69-1/2 years he is survived by his three daughters: Susan (Doug) Schultz, Gibson City, IL, Lisa (David) Wood, Edmond, OK, and Melanie (Greg) Crowe, Collinsville, IL; seven grandchildren: Daniel (Jen) Schultz, Bloomington, IL, Jill (Jordan) Greenlee, and Jessica Schultz, both of Champaign, IL, Brad Wood, Edmond, OK, Jack Wood, Madison, WI, Ryan (Kate) Crowe, and Grace Crowe, both of Collinsville, IL, and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother James.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to EverTrue Concordia’s Scholarship Program or Petersburg United Methodist Church.
The family would like to thank Springfield Memorial Hospital for their compassionate care and to EverTrue Concordia’s entire staff for their love and care these past 10 years. There was never a worry knowing Rich was in Concordia’s care.
