Florence E. Garbers, 99, of West Salem, Wis., passed away peacefully, surrounded by family in her home, on August 26, 2014. She was born July 19, 1915, in La Crosse, Wis., to the late Peter and Anna (Goede) Matelski. Florence was a 1933 graduate from Central High School in La Crosse. On May 22, 1943, she married Wilfred “Butch” Garbers and together they worked their family farm near West Salem. Florence was the love of Butch’s life for 71 years. She had an unforgettable smile for everyone, was a great listener, a little bit shy, enjoyed laughing, loved working, and always took great care to keep her home spotless and her table full of delicious food. Florence dedicated her life to serving her family knowing just what gifts to give each person on Christmas and birthdays, which special foods to prepare when the children and their families visited, and how to make life fun. She held dear her faith, Christ Ev. Lutheran Church and their Ladies Aid. Florence will be forever remembered for her loving, kind, and generous heart and will be deeply missed by her husband, Wilfred Garbers of West Salem; children, Don (Carol Froehlich) Garbers of La Crosse, Randy (Audrey) Garbers of West Salem, Betty (Werner) Rhyner of Madison, and Jeanette Knutson of Poynette, Wis.; grandchildren, Lisa (Al) Campbell of Winona, Minn., Rachael (Bobby Curti) Garbers of La Crosse, Sarah (Chris) Steenmeyer of Colorado Springs, Colo., Kimberly (Shawn) Larson of Charleston, Ill., Benjamin (Nicole) Garbers of Onalaska, Jennifer (Tom) Gooding of Rochester, Minn., Melissa (Joe Adomakoh) Rhyner of Madison, Travis (Alyssa) Knutson of Sussex, Wis., Michael (America) Garbers of McKinney, Texas, and Lesley (Michael) FitzGerald of Lisle, Ill.; great-grandchildren, Nathan Campbell and Jadon Campbell, both of Winona, Minn., Hunter Garbers, Danielle Curti, and Kylie Curti, all of La Crosse, Payton Kaiser, Aubrianna Kaiser, Brooklyn Kaiser, Theodon Steenmeyer, Quenton Steenmeyer, and Charis Steenmeyer, all of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Nathaniel Larson and Ruth Ann Larson, both of Charleston, Ill., Brennan Garbers, Kennedy Garbers, and Greyson Garbers, all of Onalaska, Julia Gooding of Rochester, Minn., Sophia Rhyner of Madison, Aurora Garbers of McKinney, Texas, and Austin FitzGerald, Hailey FitzGerald, and Colin FitzGerald, all of Lisle, Ill.; sisters-in-law, Lorene Schomberg of Barre Mills, and Louise (Don) Koenen of Janesville, Wis.; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. In addition to her parents, Florence was preceded in death by her son, David (Marilyn) Garbers; her grandson, Casey Knutson; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Harry (Dorothy Jordan) Matelski, Roy (Arlene) Matelski, Erwin (Judy) Matelski, and Lorn (Duste) Matelski. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 30, 2014, at Christ Ev. Lutheran Church, 500 Park St., West Salem. Pastor Joel Stuebs will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service Saturday at the church. Memorials may be given to Christ Lutheran Church, 500 Park St, West Salem. Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, (Jostad Chapel), West Salem, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent at www.jandtfredrickson.com. The family would like to extend a special thank you and deep appreciation to Pastor Stuebs and Pastor Riediger of Christ Ev. Lutheran Church, the care workers from ResCare, and Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Home. “She, (Florence), is a blonde of delicate mold with hair like sunshine and a heart of gold.” (Central High School Yearbook, 1933).