Former Oconto County Board Chairman Lee Rymer died May 11. He was 86.
“Lee was an ambassador for Oconto County, a well-liked and positive force,” County Clerk Kim Pytleski said at the county board’s May 23 meeting. “He made Oconto County a place on the map to a lot of people around the state.”
Pytleski said when she would mention to people at Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) events that she was from Oconto County, they would say, “Lee Rymer.”
“Someone told me he ‘rose to everything’ – if he was put on a committee or organization, he always ended up as chairman,” she said.
Current Board Chairman Alan Sleeter agreed that Rymer was a great promoter of the county as a place to live, work or visit.
“Wherever Lee was, he talked about Oconto County,” Sleeter said.
Rymer was a county board supervisor for more than 30 years, including almost 20 years as chairman since 1998. His father, Morris T. Rymer, served 18 years as county board chairman.
“I’ve always considered myself as one of 31 on this board. Oconto County is a great county,” Rymer said in 2017 after the Wisconsin Counties Association presented him with its Friend in County Government Award. “I try to do my best to make Oconto County the best county in the state of Wisconsin. … It was an honor to get the award for Oconto County.”
He stepped down as chairman in December 2017 after 19 years, eight months in the post.
“My father was a great man, and I am proud to have followed in his footsteps,” Rymer said at the time. “Dad served Oconto County as board chair for 18 years, so that’s a long time for the county. I’m quite the competitor; I guess you all know that. So I’m happy to say, ‘I beat you, Dad!’”
A service of remembrance is scheduled for 2 p.m. June 8 at Jones Funeral Home in Oconto Falls.
wbluhm@newmedia-wi.com
‘Ambassador for Oconto County’ Rymer dies
