Harley Taft Green

Harley Taft Green, 88, passed away on July 12 at Woodside Lutheran Home. Harley was born on November 10, 1929 in Milwaukee, son of the late Harley T. Sr. and Edith (Taft) Green. He graduated from Green Bay West High School in 1947 and married his high school sweetheart, Elaine Fuller, in 1950.

Harley worked at Stiller’s in downtown Green Bay for many years where he sold photo equipment and was part of the camera crew. He enjoyed sharing stories of his time spent taking game films for the Green Bay Packers during the Lambeau and Lombardi eras. At age 42, Harley entered college and graduated summa cum laude from UW-Stout with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. After spending some time in the hospitality industry managing hotels and restaurants in the Milwaukee area, he went on to earn his master’s degree in Continuing and Vocational Education from UW-Madison. Harley later shared his knowledge and taught Hospitality Management in the Wisconsin Technical College System at Gateway Technical Institute in Racine and Nicolet Area Technical College in Rhinelander, from which he retired in 1992.

Harley was a member of Grace Lutheran Church where he served on the church council and volunteered in the food pantry. In retirement, he gave of his time as a volunteer at Bellin Memorial Hospital.

In his earlier years, Harley served in the Wisconsin National Guard and was active in the Wisconsin Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) where he assumed the role of State President. He was also the founder and first president of the Hendrick Aupaumut Chapter SAR.

Harley enjoyed history and loved his country. In 1972, he was named by Governor Patrick Lucey to serve on the Wisconsin American Revolution Bicentennial Commission. He was also a member of the New York and Wisconsin Society of the Founders and Patriots of America, the Wisconsin Mayflower Society and the L.G. Armstrong Camp #49 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Harley cherished his family. He loved and was loved by his wife of 68 years, Elaine. He was a proud father who coached his sons in baseball for several years in the Breakfast Optimist and Allouez Little Leagues. And as for his precious little girl, Harley would affectionately refer to Trish as “daddy’s darling daughter.”

Harley is survived by his loving wife, Elaine, and their children, Harley “Tom” (Julie) Green of De Pere, Keith Green of Oconto, and Patricia “Trish” (Ron) Ades of Casper, WY. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren: Jessica Green, Ryan Green, Jeremy (Mirranda) Green, Josh (Mandi) Green, Nathaniel Green, John Green, Lexi Green, and Justin (Kathy) Olson, 6 great-grandchildren: Alex Green, Winnie Green, Lily Green, Dorion Green, Paige Olson, and Matt Sweeny and 1 great-great-granddaughter: Porter Block. He is further survived by his sister Rebecca “Becky” Watson, brother-in-law Warren (Jan) Fuller and sister-in-law Kathleen Stockinger, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Paul Green, sisters Joyce Burgard and Janice Kant, brothers-in-law Claude Burgard, Erwin Kant and John Stockinger, stepbrother Claire Turk, stepsister Renata Horning and very special friend, Jim McIntyre.

Friends and family can gather for a memorial service to celebrate Harley’s life at Grace Lutheran Church, 321 S. Madison St., Green Bay, on Tuesday, July 17, 2018, from 9:30 a.m. until the hour of service at 11:00 a.m. Harley’s desire was to be cremated and his ashes interred in The Garden of Grace at Grace Lutheran Church.

The family would like to thank the staff of Aurora BayCare Medical Center, Woodside Lutheran Home, and Unity Hospice for the kind and loving care they provided to Harley during his final weeks. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established.