Howard William Mead

“When we were young, Howard’s mother told him to go outside and play. He obviously took her literally and has spent his long career playing with the outside in Wisconsin.” 

—Tom Ragatz, childhood friend.  

Howard William Mead passed away peacefully on December 13, 2024 at the age of 92. 

A lifelong Wisconsinite, Howard was born in Madison on October 5, 1932 to Margaret and Harold Mead. He grew up in Nakoma with his sister, Margery, mere blocks away from the University of Wisconsin Arboretum. His family spent summers “up north” at Ross’s Resort with a grandfather who loved fishing. He was an avid boy scout, and a talented golfer from a young age. He had a brief tour in military school before graduating from Madison West High School in 1950. 

After a trial run at his family’s civil engineering business, Mead & Hunt, and four years in the Navy with the Seabees, he returned to the University of Wisconsin to pursue his passion for the written word. He found a home with the Chi Psi fraternity, making lifelong friends. He received his Bachelor of Arts in English in 1956 and then took a job with the University of Wisconsin Press.

Howard met the love of his life, Nancy Peterman, at the University and they were married in 1957, beginning a quintessential 66-year partnership of life, play, and work. Making their home in an 1860s farmhouse, they raised their three kids, Jenny, Andy, and Becky, on the west side of Madison. Shared adventures were a way of life in the Mead family. From operating a backyard sugarbush to pressing cider to backcountry canoeing and moonlit skiing expeditions, the Mead family explored every corner of Wisconsin together. 

They purchased “The Farm” in Iowa County—a beautiful natural place where the family could roam freely and Howard could pursue the many projects he would later write about. He was an enthusiastic scoutmaster with Boy Scout Troop 8 and a longtime supporter of the Four Lakes Boy Scout Council. He was also a proud president of the Crestwood PTA. 

In 1961, Howard and Nancy purchased the year-old Wisconsin Tales and Trails from Leroy Gore, becoming co-owners and publishers of the fledgling magazine. Their idea was that Howard would write, Nancy would photograph, and they would have a lot of fun doing something together. What began as an idealistic impulse became their life’s work, meaningfully impacting the state and garnering many accolades and awards over 38 years. And, it turned out, they had a lot of fun too!

Howard was the consummate storyteller, using gentle humor and insight to convey his love of the state. He wrote two books, Portrait of the Past and Ah, Wisconsin, as well as countless magazine articles and guides, but was best known for his personal column appearing in every issue of Wisconsin Trails. The First Word chronicled his adventures out and about in Wisconsin—from dog sledding to building his own log sauna to sampling Limburger cheese. He loved collecting the stories, explorations, and experiences he related in his column—always on the lookout for unique places, interesting people, and special things to do, spinning his tall tales and intimate fables in an engaging, down-to-earth style. 

Together Nancy and Howard were able to develop Wisconsin Trails into a megaphone for Wisconsin conservation, recreation, culture and history. Wisconsin Trails was instrumental in bringing attention to the Apostle Islands, helping them receive a National Lakeshore designation. They championed the environment through their work and through personal advocacy.Howard was a Vice President and Founding Board Member of the Sand County Foundation, on the Board of Visitors for the Gaylord Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies at UW-Madison, a Vice President and Founding Board Member of the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, a Vice President of the Gathering Waters Conservancy, on the Board of Directors of the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation, and held many other positions furthering his deep belief in the land ethic and conservation. In 2013, Howard and Nancy were recognized with the Bud Jordahl Lifetime Achievement Award from Gathering Waters for their over 50 years of activism. 

Howard was passionate about conserving Wisconsin’s historical heritage, feeling that the preservation choices we make today lay the foundations for understanding in the future. He was a longtime member of the Board of Curators of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, and broke ground on Old World Wisconsin as President of the Society in 1976, meeting the Queen of Denmark in the process. He was on the Board of Visitors for the UW-Madison Department of English, and was President and founding member for the Council of Wisconsin Writers. 

Howard loved getting together with buddies—enjoying the cribbage group he played with for decades, his book club, the Advocates, and the Voyagers. He and Nancy traveled around the world biking with friends. They had season tickets to the symphony and were avid concert- and theater-goers. He loved canoeing, musky fishing, cross-country skiing, golfing, the Packers, and all Badger sports. He always looked forward to his Northwoods deer camp at the Klus farm—whether he got a deer or not. 

Howard was charming and thoughtful. He was a passionate advocate, known for integrity and for doing the right thing. He was always a gentleman. He was a devoted husband and a loving father and grandfather who treated his family with respect and appreciation. He was mischievous and funny, a tall tale teller who agreed to come clean if a grandkid questioned“Really?”. He was always willing to go look things up, to find the right answer if he didn’t know it, and to listen to what was being said. He noticed details. He met the world with kindness, generosity and a twinkle in his eye. We will miss him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret and Harold Mead; his beloved wife, Nancy; and their son, Andy Mead. 

He is survived by his sister Margery Mead; his two daughters Jenny Selin (Steve) and Becky Mead (Tim Stelzer); his nine grandchildren Katie Selin (Jordan Yeager), Kari Selin, Kristen Selin, Emma Loughan (Ryan), Tatum Mead, Cade Mead, Daniel Stelzer, Ada Stelzer, and Sarah Stelzer; his great grandson Owen Selin; and an infinite number of wonderful friends he met along the way. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, 330 Femrite Drive, Monona; February 15, 2025 at 2 pm. All friends welcome!

Those wishing to make memorial contributions may want to consider The Aldo Leopold Nature Center, The Aldo Leopold Foundation in Baraboo, or the University of Wisconsin College of Arts and Letters—organizations Howard passionately supported during his lifetime. 

Please feel welcome to share your memories and condolences by posting in Howard’s Guestbook.

Cress Funeral Service

3610 Speedway Road, Madison

(608) 238-3434