Cindy Ann (George) Towner, 60, of Trempealeau, passed away at home, surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, January 30th, after fearlessly dealing with cancer for the past two years. 

Cancer may have taken her from us, but cancer didn’t win. Cindy had a strong faith and so although her life was not always easy, even in the end, she was thankful and grateful for the life she had been blessed with and accepted that if this was His plan for her, she was at peace with it.

Cindy was compassionate, she was strong, she was brave, she was stubborn, she was often full of wild ideas, but most of all, she was an inspiration to all who knew her as she never let go of her positive and fearless outlook on what would remain of her earthly life. 

Cindy was born on October 16^th to Allen and Marilyn George. She graduated from Cochrane-Fountain City High School and went on to earn her Nursing degree at Southeast Technical College in Winona, MN; she recently celebrated 40 years as a Licensed Practical Nurse. 

She dedicated her life to serving others, not because it was her job to do so, but because it was her passion to do so and she truly cared about helping her patients. Her last detail was at the La Crosse VA Clinic taking care of her beloved Veterans. Caring for others was her calling, but she was also someone who always wanted to learn and experience new things and was never one to be fully content doing the same thing for too long therefore she’d also previously worked at Franciscan Skemp, Gundersen Health System, Bethany Heights, Winona Health, and many area nursing homes.

Her desire to experience new things, didn’t just pertain to her work. As a self-proclaimed ‘Jack of Many Trades – Master of None‘ some of the hobbies she most enjoyed included: 

• Organic Gardening – she once planted 100 mounds of potatoes; generally planted at least 4 separate gardens (at one time); and she even experimented with making Dandelion Jelly, Nettle Tea, and Elderberry syrup from what she picked (with Hunter’s help) in the yard
• Raising her animals
  • Flocks of Chickens – especially dear were Goldie, Pip, and Margaret
  • 3 Pigs: Pork Chop, Pork Steak, and Pork Rib – she often cooked them scrambled eggs for breakfast
  • 2 Sheep – she had hoped they’d decrease the amount of mowing she had to do, but instead they ate her flowers and made a mess on the deck… needless to say they quickly found themselves at a new home
• Beekeeping – harvesting and sharing her ‘swamp honey’ 
• ‘Junking/Thrifting’ – she loved a good bargain – and then selling her finds at Flea Markets 
• Caterer – her desire to give and serve was endless, so when the need arose, more than once she had prepared and cooked entire meals for wedding rehearsals and even a wedding reception
• Setting Fancy Holiday Dinner Tables along with Cooking for (and often overfeeding) her Family – one could never have too many of her famous cheesy potatoes

When her work and hobbies weren’t consuming her time, Cindy also enjoyed antiques, flowers, and watching the birds and other wildlife around her home. Most of all though, she cherished the time she got to spend with her family (especially her grandchildren) and the times she had to relax with Bill – the mornings they could sit on the deck to watch the sunrise with hot cups of coffee in hand, motorcycle rides (except on bad roads or when Bill drove to close to the center-line), and their winter vacations in Arizona. 

Cindy has touched many lives with her ability to show empathy and compassion to all, be it family, friends, patients, or strangers and she will always be remembered for her relentless efforts to take care of others – no matter the need, the time, or the place; even in her own worst times of illness, she was always thinking of and putting the needs of others before her own. 

For those who knew her best, Cindy didn’t sugarcoat things and she didn’t wait around. She had a strong ‘take charge’ personality and as such it should come as no surprise that she planned and arranged her own Celebration, from the funeral home to the service and what the caterer would serve. I’m sure in part because she’s always been the one to arrange events for us and probably didn’t fully trust any of us to do things correctly (her way), but mostly because she didn’t want to leave any of us with the burden of having to do it ourselves. 

Even in her final days, she was more concerned with making sure the rest of us were taken care of, rather than herself. It is that stubbornness yet genuine concern for and devotion to caring for others that will truly be missed by all who knew her. She embodied strength, courage, and joy until the end… She was remarkable, and no one will ever forget the love and spirit she brought into their lives.

Cindy was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend. She is survived by her loving husband of 36 years, Bill (‘William T’); Four children – The Triplets: Dana (Kyle), Brock, and Cody (Lisa), and Aaron (Hailey); and Five Grandchildren – Hunter, Savannah, Caleb, Huxley, and Levi (and #6 on the way). 

In addition, she is survived by her mother Marilyn George, her sisters Renee (Bob) and Sue, and her brother Tom; Her parents-in-law Thurman and Janice Towner, and brothers-in-law John (Tricia), Gary (Kerry), and Mark (Tammy); as well as many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her father Allen George and her niece Shauna Ruhoff. 

A Celebration of Life gathering and service will be held at Mt Calvary Lutheran church in Trempealeau on Saturday, February 8^th at 11am (with lunch following). A visitation will be held prior from 9am-11am.

Memorials may be made to the family or to the La Crosse Warming Center or Chasing Daylight Animal Shelter. 

Special thanks to everyone who’s sent cards, flowers, meals, and prayers the past two years and to the Gundersen Hospice Nurses for your support these last two months.