William T. Harder

I know I only got to meet Bill a few times over the last couple years, but I’m so thankful I was able to get to know him a bit! I remember telling Nick that even though he barely knew me, I bet that if I asked Bill to cheer me on at a game or help me fix something, then he WOULD! He had a beautiful gift of making you feel important and valued even if he hardly knew you. He always seemed to genuinely want to know how you were doing and I always left our little conversations feeling joyful.

This is silly, but I also have a memory of how he labeled y’alls storage unit key. It was laminated and labeled so perfectly and it just struck me as the most thoughtful and “dad-like” thing to do. He just went the extra step so someone else would have everything they needed when they needed to go to the storage place, and I imagine his life was full of a million other little things he did that made a big impact on others.

I am so sorry for your family’s tremendous loss…our arms are around you all from afar and you will continue to be in our prayers!

Love,

Evans

To people who don’t know Bill, perhaps they are just two words or one name.  To people who know Bill, they are so much more than words alone can do justice to.

Many years ago, when Nick and Josh, our oldest son, entered kindergarten, we met Bill, Marie, Chris and Nick.  Nick and Josh became best buddies and our two families grew together.  We lived in the same neighborhood in Pewaukee, WI and spent many happy times at their house on the corner of Foxwood and Burningwood.  We became family.  For years now, the Harders haven’t lived in that home but not a day goes by when I drive past that house, I can still see Bill in the garage working on his boat or Marie out in the yard and Nick, Josh and Chris playing baseball.  Yes, I even see me throwing the football to Chris – a duo that I can modestly say had more TD passes than Rodgers and Adams.  Great memories.

Fortunately, our friendship survived their move back to Green Bay.  There were many more happy times at their home in Park Place.  That would include sitting in “old” Lambeau Field for hours with Chris, Nick, Josh and Kira (our daughter), in sub-zero temperatures waiting for the Pack to arrive the day after their Superbowl victory over the Patriots.  More great memories.

Bill is one of the most genuine people that I have ever met.  He’s always smiling, always looking for the good and yes, the fun in whatever the task at hand was.  I remember once, doing a rather unpleasant task together, I grumbled about what we were doing.  He looked at me, smiled and said “yup, but we get to do it together.”  I’ve never had a better friend.

Bill is also one of the finest men I have ever had to pleasure to call my friend.  A loving husband to Marie and a loving and devoted Dad to Chris and Nick and later to Lori and Jackie.  His knowledge of “stuff” is unbelievable.  He could fix anything and would tackle most any project.  His and Marie’s greatest and most successful project was raising Chris and Nick into the quality young men that they are today.

While the years and the miles distanced our seeing one another, when we would talk or have a chance to get together, it was like we had just spoken yesterday.  I guess that’s what true friends can do.

BILL HARDER – Two words and thousands of memories.  Thank you for touching so many of us and thanks, for the memories.

Love, Kim and Toni

Sorry to hear about the passing of your father, He had to definitely be a great man who raised to amazing souls.
may god bless you all

I never met you Bill, but I knew you through your son Chris and the stories he told about you. He is so proud to be your son, quick to share stories of memories you built with Marie and the kids. No doubt Chris’s unapologetic love for Christmas, family, cars, and Door County comes from that which you instilled in his life through effort, that’s what it takes to be a living husband and father, “Intentional effort” and you succeeded immensely in this area and Marie, Chris, Nick, and Lori are all that much better off, and more importantly incredible people to those in their lives, and I know it is because of you.

Bill, thank you for your relentless and undying love to your family, because Chris means that much to me, and I know it’s because of who you were to him.