Martin G. Richardson, 89, retired Superintendent of Beaver Dam Unified School District, passed away peacefully, July 26, 2018.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 4 at St. Katharine Drexel Parish, 511 S. Spring St, Beaver Dam by Father Michael Erwin. Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery, with graveside military honors provided by the John E. Miller American Legion Post, followed by a luncheon at Mission Hall.
Visitation will be held Friday, August 3 from 4-7 pm at Cornerstone Funeral Service, 135 Keller Blvd., Beaver Dam, with members of the legion post invited for a walk-through at 6:00 pm. Visitation will also be held on Saturday from 10-11 am at St. Katharine Drexel Parish.
Martin was born April 12, 1929 in rural Waupun, WI, the son of George and Olga (Olson) Richardson. He graduated from Waupun High School in 1947 and completed his Bachelors, Masters, and Ed Specialist Degrees. Mr. Richardson served as the Superintendent of the Beaver Dam Unified School District from 1983 until his retirement in December of 1991. Prior to that, he was a school administrator at Beaver Dam High School, an educational administrator for the State of Wisconsin Division of Mental Hygiene, and a physics teacher in the communities of Beaver Dam, South Milwaukee, and West Allis. He also worked in industrial education and labor relations with Kimberly Clark Corporation in Neenah, WI and Memphis, TN. He was a former Executive Director of the Beaver Dam Scholarship Foundation, and a member of the American Legion and St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Parish.
Mr. Richardson was an officer in the U.S. Army, the Wisconsin National Guard, and the Army Reserve achieving the rank of Lt Colonel. He served on active duty with the Wisconsin National Guard 32nd Division during the Berlin Crisis and was an operation officer mobilization designee with the United States Armed Forces Command Headquarters at Atlanta, GA.
Martin is survived by his wife of 30 years, Jan of Beaver Dam; daughters, Dr. Kathleen (Michael) Cooke Gallagher, Menomonee Falls, WI and Lori (Dr. Glenn) Albin, Stillwater, MN; son, William (Kathy) Richardson, Combined Locks, WI; step-sons, Dan (Karen) Braemer, Beaver Dam, James (Chris) Braemer, Beaver Dam; grandchildren, Katie and Dr. Kristie (Jeremy Chaudet) Albin, Martin (Jenna) and Sarah Richardson, Dorit, Andrea and Isabel Gallagher, Nick Keel, Jordan (Aaron) Barthuly, D.J. (Stacie) Braemer, Cody (Tayla) Braemer and Jayme (Shawn) Lemon; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Loretta (Fenelon) Richardson; grandson, David Richardson; his mother and father;sisters, Jean Kohl and Dorothy Staehling of Waupun; and brother, David Richardson of Beaver Dam.
Martin was committed to a life of service and proud of helping students. He felt great reward from serving Beaver Dam’s educational system. He enjoyed traveling, camping and a great political discussion, but his greatest joy in life was spending time with his children and grandchildren.
If desired, memorials are suggested to the Beaver Dam Scholarship Foundation, where a scholarship in Martin’s name has been established, or to American Legion Post 146.
Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services in Beaver Dam is honored to be serving the family. You may send private online condolences or sign the family’s guest book at www.cstonefs.com
