Carl Francis Garnett, age 94, of Scranton, passed away peacefully October 11, 2022, at Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids surrounded by his family.
Funeral services will be held October 17 at the First United Methodist Church in Scranton with Rev. Roberta Maltas officiating. Organist for the service will be Karen Murphy and vocalists will be Jesse Perrett and Julie Baker. Casket bearers will be Carl’s six grandsons: Mike Poggensee, Daniel Poggensee, Tom Poggensee, Christopher Cummings, Cliff Garnett, and Matthew Garnett. Honorary casket bearers will be Joy Perrett, Julie Baker, Candace Powell, Amanda Alvarez, Lisa Inman, Brandon Hansen, Lindsey Lloyd, Brigitte Vellekoop, and Joanna Pederson.
Burial will be in the Scranton Township Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Jefferson American Legion and the Iowa National Guard.
Carl Francis Garnett was born to Milfred and Vera Garnett on October 10, 1928, and he grew up on a farm in rural Scranton. In addition to his regular farm chores, he raised chickens for 4-H, and this prompted an interest in livestock and animal husbandry. He had one brother and six sisters, whom he loved dearly. He often told many fun stories of his childhood in a large family. During his school years, he became active in sports and lettered in football. He was a member of the choir, and was known for his bold, deep voice.
After graduating from Scranton High School in 1946, he worked as a farm hand for his father. He also played semi-professional football until he was drafted into the Army for the Korean War in 1951. Carl was trained as a heavy equipment mechanic at Fort Belvoir, VA, and attended a combat construction foreman course at Far East Command in Tokyo, Japan. He served in Korea with the 407th Combat Engineer Battalion. He achieved the rank of Private First Class with a special technical distinction. He attended reunions with his Army buddies throughout his life.
On August 1, 1951, he married the love of his life, Doloris Ione Morlan. Honorably discharged from the military in 1953, Carl worked as a farm hand for a year before working to buy a Morlan family farm. He used his father’s team of horses his first year of farming, and then bought a tractor with his earnings and more machinery as he continued to farm. In addition to his own farming tasks, he offered various custom farming services to local farmers. He and his wife had six children: four boys and twin girls. Carl was a 4-H leader, was involved with the ISU Extension Council, was Bristol Township treasurer, and was a member of the Scranton Methodist Church.
He retired at age 79 in 2007. Doloris preceded him in death in 2008, after 57 years of marriage. During his retirement, his greatest pleasure was spending time with his extensive family. They built cherished traditions together. He enjoyed life on the farm and remained active. He lived there with his canine companion Drake until age 90. He moved to Long Term Care in January of 2019. He was an active member of Resident Council there and was crowned as 2019 Belltower Festival King of the Long Term. He moved to Thomas Rest Haven and lived there Aug. 8 to Oct. 11th, 2022. He passed peacefully, surrounded by family, and left behind a rich and meaningful legacy.
Carl is survived by his children Stephen Garnett and his wife Janet of Princeville, IL, Roger Garnett and his wife Lisa of Jefferson, Glen Garnett and his wife Jane of Sibley,Joyce Poggensee and her husband Charlie of Harlan, Janet Cummings and her husband Joe of Jefferson, and David Garnett and his wife Rande of Minneapolis, MN; sisters Lucille (Scott) Cadwell, Doris Kennedy, Darlene Taggart, and Harriett (Byron) Paup; grandchildren Matthew Garnett, Lisa (Garnett) Inman, Lindsey Lloyd, Brandon Hansen, Candace (Garnett) Powell, Amanda (Garnett) Alvarez, Cliff Garnett, Mike Poggensee, Daniel Poggensee, Tom Poggensee, Joy (Cummings) Perrett, Christopher Cummings, Julie (Cummings) Baker, Brigitte Vellekoop, and Joanna Pederson; 32 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Doloris, sisters Virginia Vernon and Gladys Hoffman, brother Don Garnett, niece Michelle Paup, and nephews Robert Kennedy and John Kennedy.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Scranton.
