Troop Trailer                                                                Patrol Box

Troop Number History

Troop 1039 was originally called Troop 30 before Bay Lakes Council went to a different numbering system with 4 digit unit numbers to handle the growing number of Packs, Troops & Crews.

Scout Masters

John MacVittie 1997-1999

Rick Johnson 1999 - present

John MacVittie started the troop out of his home with 4 boys in the troop. In 1997, the troop moved to West DePere Middle School when the troop started to grow. Since it was difficult to meet at the school after school hours, the troop moved to the VFW for a while. The VFW gave priority to paying customers so scouts were meeting in the back corner of the room. In 1999 St. John’s pastor who had came back to the parish for a 2nd time, recommended to Rick Johnson that the troop move to St John’s. St. John’s parish felt having a boy scout troop would help the parish become active in the community. Rick Johnson was voted by the troop to become the new Scoutmaster when John MacVittie stepped down due to his work schedule. Rick Johnson has been scoutmaster for 14 years beginning when his son Jim Johnson had become a scout.

Committee Chair

Pat Wilems was the first Committee Chair. John Delaney took over from Pat and then Bob Schommer, our current Committee Chair, took over from John Delaney.

Order of Arrow History

The first OA members for 1039 were Jim Johnson, Tony, & Adam Ambrosius. Rick was the OA adult picked.

Eagle Pride click to see the full list of Eagle Scouts

Chris & Nick Kasten also received Eagle rank after relocating to Florida.

Other Facts

• Troop first went to summer camp at Gardner Dam Camp.

• First troop trailer was a small green trailer. A family loaned the troop money to purchase a new trailer and the troop raised the money with fundraisers to repay the family back. This is the trailer we still use today.

• Rick Johnson’s 2 sons, Paul & Jim, both achieved Eagle Rank with Troop 1039.

• Jim Johnson is our Geocaching Counselor for our troop.

• Paul Johnson was the troop Chaplain and is currently attending the seminary.

• Rick Johnson made the patrol boxes we currently use today.

• Troop’s highest enrollment over the years has been around 30.

• Cub Scouts from Westwood Pack 4039 and Our Lady of Lourdes Pack 4030 cross over into Troop 1039.

• Our Troop meets at St. John’s Lutheran Church but the scouts come from many different religions. We are commonly called the “West DePere Boy Scouts”.