Raymond L. DeVisser, owner and publisher of the Mukwonago Chief for more than 20 years, passed away after a long bout with cancer on Friday, Nov. 24, 2000. He was 78.
DeVisser was born on May 20, 1922, in Rochester, N.Y., to Raymond and Marian (Young) DeVisser. He was a captain in the U.S. Army during World War II. He served in Europe and Japan.
DeVisser purchased the Mukwonago Chief from Dale Dettmann in 1972 and operated the paper with Jim McLoone, who later left the partnership. At the time DeVisser took over the Chief, the paper changed from a standard format to a tabloid newspaper.
Under DeVisser’s ownership the circulation of the newspaper grew to over 4,000 and three new shopper publications were started: The Muskego Times Record, Big Bend-Vernon Bulletin and the Hales Corners Sunrise. In 1993, he sold the business to Add Inc.
