Jem Brown, General Manager of Wisconsin Rapids Water Works and Lighting Commission, passed away unexpectedly on July 25, after a brief illness, at the age of 60.
Jeff Kuhn, Director of Finance for WRWWLC, has been named Interim General Manager. He has been with the utility for 11 years.
Brown “devoted his professional life to the electric and water utilities,” an obituary in the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune noted.
“Jem served as the General Manager of Wisconsin Rapids Water Works and Lighting since 2008. Under his leadership, the utility and community flourished, and his commitment to excellence and service was evident in every project he undertook,” the obituary noted.
He joined WRWWLC as General Manager in 2008, and also served as Board Chair of Great Lakes Utilities (GLU).
Brown was a long-time member of MEUW’s Board of Directors and served as President of the Board in 2014-15. He was currently serving a two-year term as an At-large Director.
He was particularly active in MEUW’s Legislative & Regulatory Committee, regularly participating in discussions with staff at the Public Service Commission and at the State Capitol on behalf of MEUW and its members.
