December 25, 1945 – January 1, 2026

William Glen Harvey was born December 25th, 1945, in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. His childhood was part city-kid and part country-boy. His family moved to a farm in Southern Missouri in a small town of Redford. There was no running water in the early days of farm-life, and they were one of the first of the surrounding neighbors to have indoor plumbing. There were many adventures during his time there that made for great story-telling later in life.
He served honorably in the US Navy submarine squadron aboard the USS Archerfish and the USS Pickerel during the Vietnam era. His career path after the military took various directions from working on a barge on the Mississippi River, to the police department, to woodworker/antique refinisher, hardware/construction, to shipper. However, much of his adult life was devoted to his passion of working with wildlife.
His patience, his calming presence, and his easy-going demeanor made him an ideal candidate for animal/human interaction. He worked with exotic animals in preserves, sanctuaries, and educational programs. During this time-frame, he personally raised both a cougar and a tiger from infancy that were abandoned by their moms. He bottle-fed both of them, but their being on different feeding schedules didn’t allow much time for sleep. The two, though different, grew up as siblings and learned from each other with Bill’s guidance. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that he treasured.
He also volunteered and worked in programs re-introducing wolves back into the wild, re-population, and public education helping to raise money for those causes. He was a cruelty investigation officer for the Humane Society, worked with Animal Control, and for Missouri Wildlife Rescue, offering rehabilitation, protection, and release. Bill said that working with animals may not have paid as well as other fields, but that it was extremely rewarding, and he wouldn’t have traded it.
After retiring, he could almost always be found working on some type of project that needed fixing or doing. He loved nature, our home on the river, and was a friend to any and all animals. He loved his family and friends, and was so grateful for our many wonderful memories, and for our Catholic faith. He enjoyed playing guitar and singing, especially songs that told a story.
After an almost year-long ordeal with cancer and complications, giving it his positive, determined yet calm, “one day at a time” best effort, Jesus called him home. He passed on January 1st, 2026. By those who had a chance to know him, his family and his friends, he is truly missed and always will be. I/we love you, sweet William.
He is survived by Mary Delaney and many loving cousins.
Donations may be made in Bill’s memory to The Wounded Warrior Project, The Veterans Guest House of Reno, NV and The Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka, MO.