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Former sheriff dies at 72

WHITEWATER — Former Walworth County Sheriff Dean R. McKenzie is remembered by his colleagues and friends as a humorous, community-oriented leader who will be missed by many.

McKenzie, 72, of Whitewater died of heart disease about 3 a.m. Friday at Fairhaven Retirement Community in Whitewater.

He spent his 29-year law enforcement career in Walworth County. He served as sheriff from 1986 to 2000 and was the longest-serving Walworth County sheriff to date.

An emotional Sheriff David Graves, who succeeded McKenzie, described him as a good leader and great guy.

“Seems like there is lot to say, probably too much to squeeze into a newspaper article,” Graves said.

He recalled meeting McKenzie while he was doing construction work in front of Graves’ parents’ house in Whitewater.

The older man convinced Graves, 7 years old at the time, that his parents would like it if he stuck his hands in wet cement and wrote his name next to the prints.

Graves’ mother walked up just in time to stop the boy. McKenzie got a good laugh out of it.

“He liked to get people like that,” Graves said.

Graves, who was undersheriff while McKenzie was in office, said he visited him with Undersheriff Kurt Picknell on Thursday.

Graves received the news Friday morning from Capt. Scott McClory, and Graves said he was OK at the time. As the day went on, memories of the man Graves calls his mentor started flooding his mind.

“It’s tough, but you get through it,” he said.

“I’d like to say more, but I just can’t get it together now.”

On Friday, Walworth County officials took a moment during the 2009 sheriff’s office awards ceremony to honor McKenzie.

“I am confident that Dean is looking down at this ceremony, and I couldn’t think of a more appropriate day for this event to be held,” Walworth County Administrator David Bretl said.

McKenzie is credited as the key driver behind the Walworth County Law Enforcement Center where the sheriff’s office is located. The building was approved by the county board and erected during his term.

McKenzie was a member of the Whitewater Optimist Club, volunteered at the Bethel House, was a member of the Ft. Atkinson Hospital Auxiliary and also a member of the Republican Party. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Whitewater.

“He was very community-oriented, even after he retired,” Graves said.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 145 S. Prairie St., Whitewater.

Burial with military honors will follow in the Hillside Cemetery, 418 S. Wisconsin St., Whitewater.