Harold C. Adams

Harold C. Adams, a longtime Appleton resident, passed away Sunday, March 11, 2007. He was 93. Harold was born in Richland Center November 29, 1913, the son of the late Theron F. and Pearl (Bolster) Adams. He graduated from the LaCrosse, Wisconsin Central High School and the University of Wisconsin, with a B.A. degree. He continued his education in 1949 at Central States School of Banking in Madison. It was in Madison that Harold Adams worked at Milwaukee's First Wisconsin National Bank. On June 28, 1941, he married the talented Jean Hedemark, and soon after entered the U.S. Navy. He was stationed in Washington, Key West and all Navy stations in the Caribbean area and was discharged in 1945 as a Lieutenant Senior Grade. The war over, Harold reentered active banking and with his wife settled in Oshkosh where he was executive Vice President of the First National Bank. It was from his position in Oshkosh that Adams stepped up to the top of his profession, when he was offered and accepted the title of President of Appleton's First National Bank, a role he held from 1952 until 1978. Harold organized the First National Corporation as Chairman and President. After retirement, he moved to Naples, Florida in 1977.

Harold Adams was a man vitally interested in people, and in serving the community he called home. His community and civic commitments were countless, but key among them were the Appleton Downtown Rotary Club, Y.M.C.A., The Mielke Foundation, Kings Daughters Foundation, Fox Valley Symphony, Junior Achievement – Appleton, Community Blood Center, S.C.O.R.E., Peabody Manor, Boy Scouts of America, Sheltered Workshop, Goodwill Industries, American Legion, Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce, Appleton Medical Center, and St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.

Survivors include his son: Stephen C. (Abby) Adams of Winnetka, Illinois; a grandaughter Hannah K. Adams of Brooklyn, New York; a grandson, Gerrit S. Adams, attending Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jean in 1999, and a sister Pauline Feiertag of Naples, Florida

A service to honor Harold’s memory and dedication to his community will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 209 South Allen Street in Appleton, with Revs. Kurt and Mary Beth Kovanen officiating. Friends may call directly at the church on Tuesday morning from 10:00 AM until the hour of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Harold and Jean Adams Music Scholarship Fund at Lawrence University, P.O. Box 599, Appleton, Wisconsin 54912.

WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME
537 N. Superior Street
Appleton, Wisconsin 54911
920-739-1231