Harley Orlando Erbs

Harley Orlando Erbs, 92, passed away on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at Aspirus Hospital in Wausau. He was born on July 29, 1928 at his family’s farmhouse in Oakdale, Wisconsin to Harry Albert Erbs and Edna Marie (Untiedt) Erbs.

Attending a one-room schoolhouse during grade school, his youth was filled with adventure and hard work on the farm. After graduating from Tomah High School in 1945 he moved to Milwaukee and started working at the Proving Grounds for Allis Chalmers. He then transferred to work as a Service Representative for Allis Chalmers in Madison. On January 13, 1951 he married Ruth Henrietta Splittstoesser, a medical technician working at Eusophi in Madison, originally from Tomah, and they built a home and started raising a family of three children in Madison. He served in the National Guard for a brief period of time during the Korean War. In 1966 he was promoted to the position of District Sales Manager for Allis Chalmers and his family moved to Iron River, Michigan before settling in Rhinelander in August 1969.

During his career Harley received numerous awards for exceptional sales and management expertise. He was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman, harvesting wild rice, tapping maple syrup on the family's sugar bush, and appreciating the wonders of nature. An active member and past president (1994) of Trout Unlimited, he also enjoyed X-country skiing, biking, hiking and exploring foreign cultures such as China, Russia, Japan, Europe, and remote stretches of North America.  Both Ruth and Harley were involved with the Unitarian Church and the Institute for Learning in Retirement.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Albert (1955) and Edna Marie (1975); sister Ralda Marie Beihoff (1974), brother Harry Frederick (1988), sister Delphis ("Dee") Emma Carlson (1996), brother Eldron ("Bud") (2006), sister Maleda Edna Drinkwine (2020); his wife Ruth Henrietta (2021); oldest son Steven Harley (2018).

He is survived by his second son Daryl (Jackie) Erbs of Tarpon Springs, FL; daughter Lori Erbs of Acme, WA; 2 granddaughters (Jessica, Jasmine); grandson (Gregory) and many dear relatives and friends.