Campus mourns passing of alumna and former State Rep. Sharon Metz

Former State Rep. and UW-Green Bay alumna Sharon Metz (’84, Communication and the Arts) passed away over the weekend.  According to faculty member J P Leary, she and her husband Tom have lived allyship to Indigenous peoples. During her 12 years service as a legislator from Green Bay, she was instrumental in passing what became the Wisconsin Indian Education Act in 1979. She also laid important groundwork for passage of Act 31 in 1989 and is one of the overlooked heroes in that effort.

Sharon and Tom founded HONOR—Honor Our Neighbors Origins and Rights—in 1990. Their efforts through HONOR organized nationwide support for Native peoples during the height of the treaty rights controversy in Wisconsin. Their efforts through the HONOR Resource Center helped to make accurate, authentic books and instructional materials available to teachers, students, and community members when such materials were not easily found.

The family will hold a private memorial service. A public visitation will be held at Mueller Funeral Home, 904 E. Main St. Winneconne on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, from 5 to 7 p.m. Due to COVID, face coverings and social distancing will apply.

In lieu of flowers or memorials, the family suggests donations in Sharon’s name to Heifer International. If you wish please submit online condolences to muellerfh.net. Please see the full obituary.