Harley E. Dunbar, age 83, of Waupaca, WI passed away on Monday, February 13, 2017 at Theda Care Medical Center-Waupaca.
Harley was born in the Town of Dayton, Waupaca County, WI on March 5, 1933, the son of the late Elmer and Mayme (Testin) Dunbar. On September 7, 1957, Harley married Susan Smith at the Dopp Methodist Church. Harley worked for many years in law enforcement, first as a Police Officer with the City of Waupaca and later as the Village Marshall in Wild Rose. He enjoyed sports and was an avid bowler, playing in the men’s league and couples leagues, he entered tournaments and taught his son Michael to bowl, of course Michael learned a lot from his bowling experience with his friends. Playing pool with the Senior league for many years has been a great time also. He also played couples shuffle board at the Senior League and was doing great. I will never forget the one time Harley missed his 300 game by 3 pins. Our son, Michael has been a great bowler also and has had a few 300 games along with the great average he carries and when he was in the Navy in Norfolk, Virginia he bowled for the Navy tournament and helped winning it for them with a 700 plus series. We have been playing sheepshead cards twice a week for many years and he helps running the card party at the Senior Center on Tuesdays and one at Trinity Church every Friday afternoon. We also enjoy getting together with other family members and friends for an evening of cards and different board games. Over the years, Harley and Sue have restored three convertibles, a light blue 1962 Chevy with a white top, a 1967 red Camaro with a white top, which we gave to our son Michael and his wife Amy and our pride and joy, a 1957 Sierra Gold Chevy Convertible, which we restored from the ground up, even finding a different frame for it. We spent many weekends going to car shows with our friends from Waupun over the years. They had restored a turquoise 1957 Chevy Convertible with a white top. Harley also loved his toy, a John Deere lawn mower with power lift no less, which he has never shown me how to run. He mows the grass, picks up leaves in spring and fall, snow blows the snow. It was nothing to see him going up and down the street mowing our neighborhood friends’ lawns and blowing snow to help them out. I called johnnie his toy.
Harley is survived by his wife:,Sue Dunbar, Waupaca; his son, Michael (Amy) Dunbar, Oshkosh; his two granddaughters, Casey and Morgan Dunbar and his sisters: Gladys (Lloyd) Moder, Hortonville; Caroline (Leonard) Guthu, Waupaca and Annette Koss, Waupaca. Harley is also survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Leland and Darrel Dunbar.
The Funeral Service will be on Saturday, February 18 at 11:30 a.m. at the Holly Funeral Home in Waupaca with Pastor Jeff Fletcher officiating. Burial will follow in the Crystal Lake Cemetery, Town of Dayton, Wisconsin. Visitation will be on Saturday morning from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home.
Our wonderful neighbors have really been a great help to us in the past few years and I want to thank them for being there for us. It has allowed us to stay in our home these past few years. Harley will be greatly missed by his family and our friends in the neighborhood. Holly Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.