Service Details
Due to COVID19, a private service for his family will take place on Friday, December 11, 2020. The service will be available for all to watch via livestream on Friday at 3:30 p.m. by using this link https://youtu.be/_a1-Rxveyqw
Memorial Suggestions
Memorial gifts may be made to the J.I. Case School Scholarship Fund, payable to the Racine Community Foundation, 1135 Warwick Way, Ste. 200, Racine, WI 53406 or online at http://www.racinecommunityfoundation.org/donate
RACINE – On Wednesday, November 25, 2020, Dennis Wiser passed away unexpectedly at the age of 70.
Dennis was born on February 24, 1950, in Juneau, WI to Francis and Wilma (Radloff) Wiser. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and his Masters degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.
Upon graduation from college, Dennis came to Racine in 1972 as a mathematics teacher at J.I. Case High School for the Racine Unified School District, where he taught for nearly three decades. In 2004, Dennis was inducted into the S.E. Wisconsin Educators Hall of Fame.
Dennis’ dedication to public education went beyond his commitment to his classroom students.
Beginning in 1979, Dennis began work on behalf of public school teachers and teachers assistants through the Racine Education Association, serving as both President, and later, Executive Director.
In 2008, Dennis was elected to the Racine Unified School Board, serving twelve years, including School Board President. An unabashed believer in public school education, Dennis applied his considerable talents to this belief at every level – from the classroom to the boardroom.
In 2010, Dennis was elected to the City of Racine Common Council as Alderman in the 10th District. During his time on the Common Council, Dennis served an unprecedented three terms as City Council President. In 2017, Dennis was appointed interim Mayor of the City of Racine from July to November that year. It was an event he found both thrilling and rewarding.
Dennis was devoted to Racine and he always believed in our community’s potential. Possessed with a math teacher’s heart, Dennis saw challenges as equations that with collaboration and tenacity, could be successfully addressed and resolved. Dennis welcomed those challenges, and he deeply valued the many colleagues and friends he made along the way.
Dennis was generous with his time and knowledge, nurturing many as a mentor and friend. He will be greatly missed in the Racine community. He was a presence that can never be replaced.
Dennis’ accomplishments as an educator, union leader, school board member, alderman and council president are many and too numerous to name, but it was his family and friends which brought him his greatest joy. His adoring family was his crowning achievement. While he walked the corridors and chambers of many public institutions, it was at home where he was happiest.
Dennis is survived by his lifelong partner, Mary Totero, her children, Lenisa (Liam) Doherty, Gina Totero; grandson, Finn Doherty, family dogs, Tyson and Louie; and also by his brother, David (Lauren Bird) Wiser, and nephews, Alexander and Nicholas Wiser. He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Wilma.
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
~Robert Frost
Due to COVID19, a private service for his family will take place on Friday, December 11, 2020. The service will be available for all to watch via livestream on Friday at 3:30 p.m. by using this link https://youtu.be/_a1-Rxveyqw.
Memorial gifts may be made to the J.I. Case School Scholarship Fund, payable to the Racine Community Foundation, 1135 Warwick Way, Ste. 200, Racine, WI 53406 or online at www.racinecommunityfoundation.org/donate
Nancy Jacobson says
I am so sorry for the families and the communities loss. I had Mr. Wiser for a math teacher at Case in 1977, and I always remembered him and he was my favorite teacher.
Dave Smerchek says
My thoughts and prayers for the family and friends of Dennis. I worked with Dennis many years at Case HS.
Dave Smerchek
Dan Hiatt says
Dennis was the bellwether educator. His knowledge and commitment were evident in all his endeavors. We lost a good one. The Racine community is thankful he walked among us.
Kevin McCormick says
My sincere condolences to the Wiser family.
Doug Lloyd says
My condolences. Me. Wiser was the best teacher I ever had and inspired me to continue taking math through college. At the time we thought he was quirky. In hindsight, it was a man who truly loved his job. Thank you for everything, Rest In Peace, life well lived! Doug Lloyd -‘75-76 trigonometry
Mark J Shimkus says
To the Family of Dennis Wiser,
Great person, great man. Sorry for your loss.
Mark J. Shimkus
Dennis McGoldrick says
My condolences to Dennis’s entire family and to the Totero family. JT article did a great job of itemizing Dennis’s incredible contributions to the Racine community and the Obituary was beautifully written to compliment that article. As Dennis was fond of telling his students at Case High School “You may get smarter, but I will always be Wiser!”
Paul L Minneti says
Mary my prayers and sympathy are with you and your family. As his barber for many years he was truly a customer that became a good friend.
Joe and Marilyn Kiemen says
Our hearts go out to Mary and Dennis’s family. Dennis was a man of virtue in the classic sense: a man of honesty, integrity, good will and character. As former educators, he represented us with dignity, respect, and hard work.
Katherine Carson, Alan Carson says
Keeping all of the family in my heart. Gentle hugs and wishes for good memories to help with everyone’s grief. Dennis will be remembered in our lives as a very kind, loving and hard-working friend.
Barbara Hyttel says
Dennis was one of the most kind and giving people I knew. I often reached out to him with a variety of questions and he always answered. I loved listening to him explain things. He will be missed.
Matthew E Rains says
Dennis was a high school classmate. For my 21st birthday, he brought over a bottle of Boone’s Farm Apple Wine. We had lost touch over the years, but he was one person that I was always planning to get in touch with. So don’t make my mistake
Deborah Peterson says
I had the privilege of working with Dennis in the computer lab at Case High. I learned a lot from him. Prayers to the family.
Dan Thielen says
RIP Dennis. Thank you for all your years of service to RUSD and the City of Racine.
Deborah Coca says
To the family of Dennis Wiser. He truly was an advocate for Public Education. I remember him as a supportive and a person of true character. He helped me through one of the darkest times of my life for which I will be forever grateful. May his devotion to his community and the public school system be remembered forever. May he RIP
Karen Larsen and Ken Werley says
Our thoughts and love are with you.
Clara Loretta Hart-Grays says
The victory has finally been won…it was a great flight over the years,..I will visit your soul in heaven because you fought with an angel..Rest in peace…May God Bless Your love ones. For many followers stood with you December 12, 2020 3:00 A.M.
Rell Barrett says
It is with great sadness when I read of the loss of Dennis. I worked with him at RUSD, he was a great teacher and well liked by all. Truly a loss to all of us. RIP my friend. Best wishes to the family to.