Richard Carpenter

1927 - 2025

On Saturday, October 18, 2025, our dear Richard Marvin Carpenter of Scottsdale, Arizona, formerly of Racine, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at the age of 98. He was a loving husband, father of 7, grandfather of 18 and great grandfather of 15. Richard was the youngest of six children born to William L. and Olive S. (Eppers) on April 16th, 1927. His love of family was always present in his lifetime interactions with sisters June Niesen (Gill), LaVerne Gauchel (Vincent), Ione Kis (John) and brothers Dean (Virginia) and Bill Carpenter (Elaine). Memories of big brother Bill's antics as the boys grew up never failed to bring out a howl.

Dick (as he was known to all) attended Holy Name Grade School and St. Catherine's High School in Racine, Wisconsin where he enjoyed baseball, basketball and football. He graduated from high school in 1944 with a football scholarship to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he played baseball and football for the Badgers.

During his high school years, Dick met his beloved wife, Josephine (nee, Sosinski). Smitten with each other, the high school sweethearts eventually married on January 29, 1949 raised a large family in Racine, enjoyed Dick's successful work career, then traveled the world remaining loving, life-long partners for over 73 years!

His college years were interrupted when he was inducted into the Army. Dick spent 2 yrs in the Army Finance Dept serving in Germany. Upon his discharge, Dick returned to the university where he received his degree in pre-law. He then entered the UWM Law School where he graduated in 1952 with the Order of the Coif Honors.

On July 1, 1952, Dick joined the Law Department at S.C. Johnson Wax and Co. He dedicated a career of 40 years to various capacities which included experience in marketing, international operations and administration. He would often laugh while reminiscing about his ideas for a product in the 70's called Big Wally. At the same time, he was more in his lane opening companies in Southeast Asia... a time of great travel and incredible cultural experiences. He would smile noting that at 6' 2", he was often the tallest guy in the room.

During his working years, he was one of the founders of the Racine Junior Achievement Organization, served as chairman of the governing board of St. Catherine's HS, District Commissioner of the Boy Scouts, Racine Marketing Executive of the Year, taught religious education classes for 8 yrs at St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church and was active in the United Way in different capacities.

Dick was appointed President & CEO of Johnson Wax in 1990. Two short years later the company recognized his leadership contribution by bestowing upon him their highest award... the Carnauba Palm Award. Just before his retirement in 1992, he orchestrated the acquisition of the Drackett Co., (makers of Windex and Drano) for over a billion dollars, 10 times larger than any previous Johnson acquisition.

Throughout the entirety of his career, he interacted with heads of state, celebrities, even the prince, now king of Bali, Prof. Dr. Anak Agung Gde Agung (who has remained a dear friend). Likewise, even as CEO, Dick could walk through the plant and know everyone by name. His enduring legacy was his ability to find and connect to the child in royalty while finding royalty in everyone to the last in line at Johnson's. Through his last days, he would enjoy talks with wait staff, grounds keepers, parishioners, nurses and doctors. Even customers in line at the grocery store would be lifted by his wit and charm. He loved to make people around him smile.

Dick, preceded in death by his loving wife Josephine (95 yrs old), is survived by his adoring children, grandchildren and great grandchildren: Cathy Flood (Mike Flood, daughter Stephanie), Ralph Porcaro, daughters Marissa (Kelly Richards) and Mallory (Jared Schneider), Jeff Carpenter (Kathy, children Maria (Julio Murillo), Becca (Jabari Bolton), Emily and Ben), Judy Weber (Tony Weber, children Madeline (Chris Powers) and Mason (Grace), John Carpenter (Terie, children Jack (Dakota), Hannah and Olivia, Terri Carpenter (children Kristin (Sean Pinnow), Paul and Noah (Anjelica), and Laura Black (Bob Black, daughters Aubrey and Donalie). He will be missed by 15 great grandchildren. Sadly, the challenge of his long life was to be preceded in death by his beautiful daughter, Paula Porcaro and his grandson, Mark Flood. Likewise, Dick now joins his parents, brothers and sisters, who all predeceased him, as the last of the Carpenter Family from Owen Ave.

As a young dad, Dick chased after each of his 7 kids holding the seat of their bike while assuring them between strides that they did not need the training wheels. Often you would find him on a summer's night in front of the house pitching wiffle balls to the kids in the neighborhood. During the winter, he skated with his kids on the Root River in Armstrong Park, even cooking potatoes on a wood fire and offering them, not always convincingly, as a snack to keep warm. In contrast, it was easy to convince his 7 kids to jump into the station wagon for McDonald burgers and Dairy Queen cones on a Saturday night probably costing the big guy a whopping 15 bucks! On other nights, every one of his kids knew his whistle, loud as a train horn, as the signal to come home for dinner.

Dick loved gatherings with his parents, brothers and sisters. Family trips to Rhinelander were special. Whenever the Carpenter clan came together, laughter and joy could be heard well past the walls of any cabin or home. At the center of that universe was his mom who graced the extended family for 105 years!

As his family grew older, Dick filled his life with a variety of interests. Always a great athlete, he was an able tennis player and could hit a golf ball over 200 yds well into his 90's! He loved to spin his wife about the dance floor, sometimes all around the world. Hand in hand, they explored villages in Tibet, the wall of China and the pyramids of Egypt. Yet, some of his best days were spent closer to home with Jo and great friends at Pinnacle Peak CC... golfing, socializing and laughing together. On the days he did not venture out, he would often play his favorite music... from Jim Reeves to Andrea Boccelli. He was at his best with his family around him. It was hard not to enjoy the banter over cards between he and wife Jo, so often ending with her giggling while he weakly tried to hide his laughter. Other times, he regaled all with his many life stories and experiences, often coupled with his sharp wit and sage advice. Maybe Dick's most precious interest was spending time in his beautifully landscaped yard filled with desert bloom, even more enjoyable if he could share it with others. It was truly his chapel of reflection.

A quiet memorial service will be held on November 17, 2025, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Scottsdale, Arizona, with internment at the National Memorial Cemetery. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Our Lady of Perpetual Help or a charity of your choosing.

In his final days of nearly a century of living marked by great love and generosity, Richard Marvin Carpenter, as a man of great faith which powerfully guided him throughout the entirety of his life, always questioned whether he had done enough. His family never doubted for a moment, and now we find warmth in knowing he is with his bride Josie, daughter Paula... and all the special family and friends that went before him. He was and will always be the hero of our family. He was 98 yrs young.