Bob Harlan remembered as decent man who served the Packers, Green Bay

Bob Harlan was commended to the Lord the way he would have wanted, surrounded by the Harlan family, the Green Bay Packers family, friends – anyone who met Harlan would come away believing they were in that last category. A Mass of Christian burial was held March23 at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay for Harlan, 89, who died March 5 in Green Bay.

In addition to his family – wife Madeline, to whom he was married nearly 67 years, their three sons and their sons' families – the service was attended by Green Bay's three most recent mayors, former general manager Ron Wolf, former Packers president Mark Murphy, current president Ed Policy, former coach Mike McCarthy, other current and former Packers employees and friends from throughout the community. Services were initially scheduled for March 16, but a record-setting snow storm caused a weeklong delay, which some speculated may have resulted in fewer dignitaries from the NFL or other teams attending. No matter.

Oldest son, Kevin Harlan, a longtime, award-winning sports broadcaster, said was his dad was pleased with his long life and was ready to go when the time came. Harlan was a native of Des Moines, Iowa, and graduate of Marquette University, where he worked in the sports information department for six years after graduation. From there he joined the St.

Louis Cardinals and was with the team for six years, including two World Series appearances. He joined the Green Bay Packers in 1971 as an assistant general manager responsible for negotiating player contracts. Harlan was elected team president in 1989, after which he hired Ron Wolf as general manager and gave him final say in football operations.