Our dearly loved Husband, Father, Pops, Grandpa, Papa, Garth LaRene, age 82, passed away Thursday, June 26th, 2014 at Mt. View Care Center, Wausau, WI. He was born Feb. 23, 1932 in Tomahawk, WI., son of Peter and Adalia LaRene. Garth was a Corporal in the Army, serving as a medic in the dental clinic during the Korean War, 1952-1954 in Okinawa. 

He married his special love, Carol Helms, June 2, 1963, and celebrated 52 years with each other. Garth worked at Tomahawk Paper Mill, in… his younger days, graduated from the Residential Design program at the Vocational School in Wausau, now known as NCTC. He was employed at Texas Lumber, Wausau, Kellogg Lumber, Wis Rapids, Schuette Building Center, Wausau, Wausau Supply, Schofield, and Eastbay Warehouse, Wausau. He was pleased to say that he never had to ask for a job…they came to him. He started in the retail business–1958 to 1986, then wholesale building materials, from 1986 to 1995, until he retired. Sept. 2013, Garth participated in the Never Forgotten Honor Flight.

Garth liked the quieter side of life….quietness of his back yard, hearing the birds sing and could tell each kind of bird by its song. He loved the tranquility of a walk in the woods and the sound of the leaves beneath his shoes. And, the sound of a fishing lure striking the surface of the lake and seeing the ripple it produced. He loved gardening! His name actually means “gardener”. He loved planting flowers and vegetables and watching them grow. And, he had a passion for trees….planting many, many trees in the yards of various homes that he owned and lived in.

Garth enjoyed being by himself….never felt lonely….loved the peacefulness of it. Crowds of people and lots of noise and distraction, bothered him. He especially enjoyed the many great times when friends were envited to a meal at home and the stories and laughter that ensued. He was an avid reader, especially of non-fiction and autobiographies. WW II stories were some of his favorite reading. Garth loved television….loved various kinds of movies…drama, westerns, mysteries, history and boxing matches, especially champion boxing. He was happy when the remote control came into play….could change a channel and not have to get up out of his chair! He was involved in various aspects of his church life at Mt. Calvary and Mt. Olive Lutheran churches. Was a volunteer for Boy Scouts and member of Wausau Builders. Assoc.

Garth has always had a way to convey his love for his family. When the kids were young and took school lunches–brown bagging it–he would always hand-write a note to them with a special message, in a positive vain and was always signed with his love for them. It was a warm note with a cold lunch. He carried that special way of communicating throughout his marriage, as well. He would leave love notes or poems throughout the house or greeting cards with romantic messages, on special occasions and even when there weren’t. Fresh bouquets of flowers, purchased or picked from the garden, were common things he’d bring to Carol. He also loved to sing…..he’d break out into song whenever the mood struck him, walking into a room where you were or coming home from a trip to the store and it was always a love song of some kind. There was no doubt of his love for his family—they meant everything to him! They were shown the more sensitive side of him…something that the public seldom saw or knew about. He was a great and caring and gentle father to his children as they grew up–a very hands-on type of person.

Life was not easy for Garth when he was growing up. Somehow, he rose above the despair and hardships to make a better life for himself and his family, to become a wonderful and loving father of his 4 children and his wife, Carol.

Survivors include his wife, Carol, and their 4 children: Trevor (Tammy) of Green Bay, Shawna (Bob) Glennon, Stevens Point, Sonya (Phil) Whitman, Kronenwetter, Shane, Rothschild, 4 grandsons: Bennett and Ethan of Green Bay and Eli and Liam of Steven Point. Garth was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Gwendolyn Krueger and Mardelle Wendland and one brother, Paul.

Garth fought a gallant battle with the dreaded melanoma cancer…..he endured all that was offered him in surgeries, treatments and procedures of various kinds, in order to extend his life a little longer…3 additional years. He rests in peace now and his pain has finally ended.

Garth had a way of making people feel good and you always felt better after having been with him. With his smile, hand shake or a pat on the back—“glad to see you!” He loved people and making them laugh—–with his great sense of humor! His breakfast at the Log Cabin with his buddies was a routine for him. His exercise workouts at various gyms over the years was a must but it was the Aspirus Y that he really enjoyed, having created many friends there. He will be missed by many that had the pleasure to know him!

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 12 , 2014, at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Weston. Family will receive guests on Saturday at church from 9 a.m. until time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the family.