Jennifer Harder, A Friend and Colleague Remembered

Recently, our long-time friend and colleague, Jennifer Harder, passed away after a long, hard-fought journey with cancer.

She was an amazing mother to her two children, Sophia and Nolan, her pride and joy who will remain her greatest legacy.

Her children were not her only legacy. Jen’s positive influence on WBA and Wisconsin’s banking industry will be felt for years to come. She worked for the association and its membership for nearly 18 years, starting after college. Her talent and creativity were exceptional and through her marketing and communication skills, she helped define how WBA served its membership in a variety of ways. Many of WBA’s education marketing pieces, along with other company product brochures were created by Jen. For several years, she represented WBA and the banking industry as a recurring television contributor on consumer finance topics at a local Madison TV station. She was also the staff liaison to the WBA Marketing Committee.

Jen's shining achievement was her work on the WBA Scenes of Wisconsin calendars. She took great pride in her work on the calendars and it showed. Every year she looked forward to working with bankers on the project and every year the project grew. More impressively, it became more beautiful over time. The 2021 edition, her last edition, coincidentally features photos she and her daughter took together.

Jen will be remembered by staff for her positive attitude, strength, and bright smile. She was always willing to lend a sympathetic ear for your troubles and a joyous laugh to lift your spirit. She was also a fighter and the example she set during her 11-year battle with cancer is one we will never forget. 

Jen’s life will be remembered and celebrated by those she left behind, her children, Sophia and Nolan Hein; husband, Tim Harder; parents, Franklin and Jean Fredrick; sister, Lisa (Emmett) Blahnik and niece, Everleí Blahnik; and her extended family and life-long friends including her work family at WBA and across Wisconsin’s banking industry.

 Jen’s Legacy
If you are interested in making a financial contribution to a memorial for Jennifer’s children, please send a check to the WBA Offices. WBA is collecting through the end of November. Checks should be made payable to “Sophia and Nolan Hein Trust.”

Wisconsin Bankers Association 
C/O Rose Oswald Poels
4721 S. Biltmore Lane
Madison, WI 53718

By, Eric Skrum