Wayne Harter of Jefferson completed 92 years of life on January 27, 2025.   Wayne was born to Jefferson parents Clarice (Bienfang) and Edward Harter on Dec 26, 1932.  He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1950, where he excelled in drama, music, and debate.

Always a patriotic man, Wayne served in the U.S. Army in Europe during the Korean War achieving rank of Corporal in the Army Medical Corps.  Following his military service to his country, Wayne attended college, first at Northland College in Ashland WI, and then the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he majored in Communications and played in the drum line for the UW Marching Band.  Wayne launched his career in the television and radio industry while still in college, beginning his radio broadcasting as a disc jockey at WATW in Ashland WI, then advancing to Beloit.  He achieved his own radio show at WKOW-ABC in Madison with the famous “Harter’s Hideaway” which played the hottest music of the day in the early 1960’s and was a radio audience fan-favorite.  Wayne transitioned into Television broadcasting at WISC-CBS in Madison, where he was Director for Advertising and Marketing, vaulting him to embark on his own advertising business, “The Harter Company” which successfully managed several major marketing accounts in the Madison area.  He eventually shifted into other public relations work with numerous Jefferson County area businesses including Schweiger Furniture, the Fireside Dinner Theater, Culvers Corporate Office, and licensed real estate.

Wayne met his wife-to-be, Miss Helen Sandberg (a registered nurse at the University of Wisconsin Hospital) at the Arthur-Murray Dance Studio in Madison, they were married in 1960 and blessed with 60 years of marriage. Wayne is well known in the Jefferson County area for strong community involvement in various local political positions at both the city and county levels, giving patriotic speeches on holidays, and playing for over 20 years in the Jefferson City Band.  He placed his faith in Jesus Christ and was a praying man who trusted God for direction and comfort.  Wayne has two children: Mark, who is a retired Air Force officer and Aerospace Engineer in Colorado, and Julie who is a veteran educator, musician, and school teacher in Indiana.  He is blessed with three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Helen, and grandson Noah.

A memorial service is being held at the Olsen-Gibson Funeral Home in Jefferson on Monday Feb 3, 2025.  Visitation 10:00-11:00am, Service at 11:00am.  He will be buried at Union Cemetery in Jefferson.