James Peter Harter, 89

James Peter Harter, 89, passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 10, 2026, in Green Bay.

Jim was born Feb. 3, 1937, in Auburndale, to the late Raymond and Cecelia (Pongratz) Harter. He grew up helping in his family’s cheese factory and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Auburndale, followed by Columbus High School in Marshfield.

He later attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, where he earned a degree in psychology, and completed Flight Services training in Oklahoma City.

Jim served in the Navy for four years, with his longest and favorite posting being Japan. He also served in the Navy Reserve for many years and retired with the rank of lieutenant. After training in Oklahoma, Jim worked in Flight Services for the FAA, communicating weather forecasts to pilots. His career took him to several airports in Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin, with his final posting at Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay for nearly 20 years.

Jim met Grace Flatoff on a visit home to Auburndale, and they were married Oct. 3, 1972. They enjoyed taking road trips and camping earlier in life, including an exciting adventure to Pikes Peak in their VW bus. In more recent years, Jim enjoyed going to the gym and swimming. They also enjoyed going out for fish fries and to supper clubs. Ice cream and coffee were among Jim’s favorite foods, including grinding his own beans for a time. Jim was a lifelong fan of Milwaukee baseball, beginning with the Braves, when he watched Hank Aaron play, and then the Brewers.

Jim is survived by his wife, Grace; his daughter, Cathy Harter; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Joanne Haas, Ernie (Jan) Flatoff, Mark (Darlene) Flatoff, Prayoon Flatoff and Elizabeth Havlovick; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, great-grandnephews and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Marian; a brother, John; a sister-in-law, Lilian; brothers-in-law Norbert Flatoff, Arthur Haas and Thomas Havlovick; and a sister-in-law, Michelle Flatoff.

Family and friends may call at the chapel of McCormick Assisted Living, 212 Iroquois Ave., Green Bay, on Saturday, June 20, from 9 to 11 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday in the chapel, with the Rev. Willie Van De Loo officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Auburndale at a later date.

The family would like to thank the staff of McCormick Assisted Living and Moments Hospice for their kind and compassionate care of Jim.