Annette M. (Kolbo) Garner

Annette Maleta (Kolbo) Garner, 98, of La Crosse, passed away at the Hillview Health Care Center on Tuesday, November 26, 2019.

She was born July 9, 1921, at home in rural Melvina, Wis., the thirteenth of fourteen children born to Adolph and Dora (Johnson) Kolbo.  She grew up in Cannon Valley (Portland, Wis.), and attended Cannon Valley School through 8 ^th grade.  At age 16, Annette moved to La Crosse where she lived with her sister while she worked at Ford Hopkins as a Soda Jerk and did some nanny work for several local families.

Annette married Leo V. Garner on June 17, 1938, in Decorah, Iowa.  To this union, four children were born:  Shirley Yvonne, Sherwin Leo “Sonny”, Sharon Marie and Darrell Vern.  Annette loved to cook and sew, making many fine meals and outfits for the family.  She enjoyed genealogy and gathered a great deal of family history.  She was also a long-time member of St. John’s United Church of Christ in La Crosse, where she was active in the Women’s Guild.

Annette is survived by her children, Sherwin “Sonny” (Karen), Sharon (Carl) Holte, and Darrell (Jeanette); grandchildren, Kay (Ralph) Grewal, Deirdre (Daniel) Hurd, Tammy (Michael) Goodin, Theresa (Gary) Smith, Kris (Tony) Garavalia, Kari (Erik) Coaty, Kelli (Michael) Walter and Rebecca Garner; great grandchildren, Justin and Ashley Goodin, Jennifer and Cody Fitzgerald, Hunter Smith, Grant (Tess) Hurd, Collin (Makayla) Hurd, Danielle, Logan and Levi Hurd, Christine Grewal, Jack, Sophie and Gracie Walter, and Kayla Coaty; and great, great grandchildren, Mason, Maverick and Ethan Hurd, Easton Overstreet, Katherine Marie Goodin, and Elliot Goodin.  She is further survived by step-grandchildren, Dan Miller, Camille Walker, Randal (Carol) Miller and Rachel (Allen) Watts; step great grandchildren, David, Erin, Anna and Evelyn Walker, Allison (Tyler) Witkowski, Maria, Cody, Angelica, Matthew and Virginia Miller, and Evan, Erica and Ethan Watts; and step great, great grandchildren, Tanner and Jackson Witkowski.

Annette was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leo, on April 13, 1986; a daughter, Shirley Garner ; sisters, Inga Kolbo, Selma Olson, Sarah Olson, Myrtle Whitwell, and Evelyn Hanson, who passed away eleven hours before Annette; and brothers, Alphin, Lindahl, Archie, Elmer, Palmer, Leonard, Joseph and Orlin Kolbo.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 4 ^th , at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 630 West Ave. So., La Crosse.  Pastor John Parkyn will officiate.  Burial will take place in Woodlawn Cemetery.  Family and friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until service time.

The family would like to thank the staff at Hillview Health Care for the gracious, loving care of Annette.