Obit: Garbisch, Wanda G. (1935 - 2010)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Garbisch, Reich, Grottke, Sprecher, Gavach, Sandstrom, Schalow, Sell  
 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) March 24, 2010 
 

Garbisch, Wanda G. (29 January 1935 - 19 March 2010) 
 

Wanda G. Garbisch, 75, of Arpin went home to be with the Lord, Friday March 19, 2010, at Portage County Health Care Center in Stevens Point. 
 

Wanda was born Jan. 29, 1935, in the Town of Fremont, Clark County, to Henry and Clara (Reich) Grottke.  She was educated at Pine Circle School, was a 1953 graduate of Marshfield High School and graduated in 1960 from Wisconsin State College, Stevens Point. 
 

From 1955 to 1960 Wanda taught at Forest Side School, Chili, and then at Fremont Elementary. 
 

Wanda was united in marriage to Bernard Garbisch Aug. 20, 1960, a Christ Lutheran Church in Chili.  After marriage they moved to Moose Pass, AK, and Wanda taught at Moose Pass Elementary for two years. They moved to California and then back to Arpin in 1967, where Wanda helped on the farm and raised five children.  Wanda did baking, gardening, canning and found time to visit others.  She was also a caregiver for her mother. 
 

Wanda was a substitute teacher for Pittsville, Auburndale, Marshfield and Wisconsin Rapids schools.  The Garbischs hosted foreign exchange students from Spain, Germany, France, Brazil, Japan and Mexico. 
 

Wanda’s faith was very important to her. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, church secretary, organist for many years, a Sunday school teacher and superintendent and was active in Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and Ladies Aid. 
 

Wanda is survived by five children, Jon (Jane) Garbisch, Western, NB, Eric Garbisch, Deerfield, Lynnell (Shane) Sprecher, Stevens Point, Ben (Lisa) Garbisch, Arpin, and Joel Garbisch (Stefanie Gavach), Sherry; nine grandchildren, Oren, Diana, Stephen, Elizabeth, Vaughn, Brooke, Aubin, Madeline and Daniel; one brother, Henry (Margaret) Grottke, Chili; and one sister, Laura Sandstrom, Rice Lake. 
 

Wanda was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband, Bernard, July 3, 1996. 
 

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 23, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vesper with Rev. Doug Schalow officiating.  Diane Sell was organist for congregational singing.  Burial was in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Arpin. 
 

Visitation was from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Buchanan Funeral home, Pittsville, and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church. 
 

Buchanan Funeral home assisted the family with arrangements.