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Robert Earl Garber

Robert Earl Garber, age 97 of Prescott, WI, passed away January 24, 2018 at the Prescott Nursing Home.

Robert was born February 20, 1920, the son of William Earl and Hazel Lenore (nee: Gantenbein) Garber in Trempealeau, WI. He was united in marriage to Lorraine L. Brandecker on February 17, 1968. Bob served in the United States Army during World War II. After basic training he was sent to Stanford University for testing and was chosen to go to Purdue University for specialized training. After nine months he was sent to Oak Ridge, Tennessee to be part of the Manhattan Project. Bob was in Oak Ridge until the end of the war and went back to work as a civilian until 1946. Bob received his Chemical Engineering degree from University of Minnesota following the war in 1947. He worked at the Ordinance plant in Hastings, MN and the Hardware Store in Prescott, WI for a brief time before starting his career at 3M in 1947.

Bob had been an avid amateur geologist (rock hound) for many years. He belonged to a group with his 3M co-workers. He traveled the world to collect special treasures to make into beautiful jewelry. Bob’s other passion was Birding and has been recognized as an active member of the Carpenter Nature Center in the St. Croix Valley where he participated in bird banding every Friday morning. He was a Member of the Friends of Freedom Park, City Council Member, and was a member of the original Board of Directors for the Prescott Nursing Home.

Bob is survived by nephew, Gary (LaDona) Garber; niece, Rebecca (Richard) Strash; nephew, Chris (Kim) Garber, great nephews Robert Strash and Bryan Morel; and great nieces Carolyn Griffin and Allison Strash; great-great nieces, Dylin, Amy & Daisy; and great-great nephew Gunnar. Bob was blessed with many friends, including Dennis and Daryl Donath; The Carpenter Nature Center Bird Banders; and all the nieces and nephews from the Brandecker family. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, wife Lorraine, and brothers Donald and Richard, and sisters-in-law Alice and Marcia.

Funeral services will be held 2:30 p.m. Saturday, January 27, 2018 at the Prescott United Church of Christ, 206 Locust St. A visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment with military honors will take place at Pine Glen Cemetery in Prescott. A dinner reception will immediately follow the burial, at The Carpenter Nature Center, 12805 St. Croix Trail S., Hastings, MN 55033. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Gary Krutke K9 Memorial Fund that will help with costs associated with acquisition and training of a K9 Officer for the City of Prescott.

Funeral services are entrusted to the O’Connell-Benedict Family Funeral Home of Prescott (715) 262-5404.