Donald “Donnie” Garness

Thursday, November 18, 2021 2:52 am

Donald “Donnie” Jerome Garness, 76, of Mabel, Minn., died on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021 at Gundersen Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis.

Donnie was born Sept. 23, 1945 in Spring Grove, Minn., to Burnell and Berneice (Larson) Garness. He grew up on the family farm in rural Mabel and graduated from the Mabel High School in 1963  On July 24, 1964 he was united in marriage to Joan Peterson. They lived on that same family farm until moving into Mabel in 2015. Donnie hauled milk for many years, starting with canned and later bulk milk  He also farmed many years with his brother, Dale. He was a member of Mabel First Lutheran Church where he had served on the church council and served on the board for the Mabel Lutheran Cemetery.

Donnie is survived by his wife Joan of Mabel; three children Rhonda (Art) Schmelzer of Decorah, Rachelle Henry of Lincoln, Mo., and Travis (Jodie) Garness of Mabel; Minn.; grandchildren Nick (Samantha) Hageman, Caitlyn (Jarad) Dotseth, Emma Schmelzer, Tanner Henry, Sawyer Henry, Parker Henry, Nolan Garness, and Livia Garness; great-grandchildren Cannyn, Lorraine, Charlie, and Oliver; brothers and sisters: Barbara Vang (Donald) of Pine Island, Ione (Rodney) Newgard, Dale Garness both of Mabel, Minn., Karen (James) Connolly of Port Charlotte, Fla., and  Dean Garness of Mabel, Minn.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Burnell and Berneice; father and mother-in-law Jarvis and Lorraine Peterson; an infant son, Russell Allen; and a brother Ronald; and a sister-in-law Jennifer Garness.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m., Monday, Nov. 22 at the Mabel First Lutheran Church in Mabel. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, at the Mabel First Lutheran Church and one hour prior to services at the church. The Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel is assisting with arrangements.