Mayors 1982 – 2000
Gordon A. Stegman 1982 – 1984
Gordon Stegman was born on July 14, 1912, in Racine, Wis. He married Edna Sorenson on August 31, 1935. He served as military air flight testing engineer in World War II. He was president of the Bradley Bank, board member of the Chamber of Commerce and director of the Tomahawk Area Corporation. He was active in Rotary Club, Lions Club and the Elks Club. Mr. Stegman died August 29, 1993 in Racine Wis.
Harold F. ‘Toastie’ Burton 1984 – 1988
Harold F. (Toastie) Burton was born April 1, 1920 in Manitowoc, Wis. and came to Tomahawk with his parents as an infant. He attended local schools, graduating with the class of 1938. He was married on November 21, 1940 to Louise Dehlinger in Tomahawk. He served two years in the Armed Forces as a 1st Sergeant in the Infantry and attended the Armed Forces Institute for two years..He served on the City Council and the County Board. He was a member of the American Legion in Tomahawk. He was elected mayor in 1984 and served through 1988. He died on May 30, 2009 in Tomahawk at the age of 89.
Richard F. Bierlich 1988 – 1995
Richard (Dick) Bierlich was born in 1933 in Tomahawk, Wis. He attended local schools and graduated in 1950. He spent four years in the military. He was a Sergeant in the Army Paratroopers, serving in Germany, Korea and Japan. Returning to Tomahawk, he became active in civic affairs, serving as president of the Fire and Police Commission, was a member of the Governors Council on Forestry 1980 – 1982 and 1987. He was a member of the American Legion and the VFW. He was elected mayor in 1988 and served through 1995.
Jon Rose 1996 – 2000
Jon Rose was born on February 2, 1959 in Tomahawk. He attended local schools graduating from high school in 1977. He attended Nicolet College, Cardinal Stitch College in Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He was married to Leah Rusin in Tomahawk. Jon was president of the Bradley Bank for nine years. He was director of the Tomahawk Development Corporation, Director of the Advance Tomahawk Corporation, District 2 Alderman and member of the Planning and Zoning Commission. He was elected to the office of mayor in 1996, which he held until he moved to Stevens Point in 2000.
Robert J. Lee 2000 – 2008
Robert Lee was born on July 13, 1935, in Downers Grove, Ill. He received his education in the Downers Grove public schools. He married Beverly Jankowski on April 12, 1957. They came to Tomahawk in 1968 where he was employed with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department for 27 years, spending 15 of those years as Chief Deputy Sheriff. He was a member of the Lions Club, a member of the School Board, serving terms as vice-president and president. He was also president of the Common Council for 7 years, until he was elected to fill out the term of Mayor Jon Rose, who moved out of the city in 2000. He is in his third term as mayor.