Garnet Marie Backus Bratberg passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on May 28, 2025.

Garnet was born on August 17, 1930, to Arthur and Grace (Doten) Backus in Wilton Wisconsin.

She met the love of her life at a dance while living with her family in Madison. Wayne Bratberg eloped with Garnet twice. They successfully married on December 29, 1951. They had three sons, Jay, David and Alan. They moved to Holmen, Wisconsin in 1963 to run a dairy farm with Wayne’s sister’s family on the farm where he was born and raised.

Garnet was a caregiver. She raised her boys, the Taylor boys (Mitch and Joel), and her grandchildren (Kaytlyn, Lyndsey, Avali, Boden and Kayli). It was her joy to help them grow and watch them excel in school, sports and their careers. She was their most dedicated fan.

Garnet loved to bake. She made buns, muffins, cakes and there were always homemade cookies to fill her cookie jar. No family gathering was complete without her “Garnie” brownies for dessert.

She loved to watch any Badger sport and the Brewers. If they weren’t on tv, then she was playing a game of cards, Rummikub, or Cribbage with whomever stopped by.

Garnet was an active member of the Holmen Lutheran Church for sixty plus years. She was a member of the Quilters Cub, Homemakers club and women’s Circle. Though she no longer physically attended church, she watched the services on her computer every Sunday for the past five years. Stop for a visit and you would often find her sitting at the table reading her daily devotions. Her faith was very important to her.

Garnet is preceded in death by her parents Art and Grace Backus, her brother Bob and his wife Pat, her sister Jean and her husband Bob Davies, her sister Helen Mary and her husband Steve Kamin, her husband Wayne and her son Alan.

She is survived by her sons Jay (Deb), David (Diane), daughter-in-law Jill (Terry Knothe), sister Claudia Backus Blum, brother Doug (Diana), her grandchildren Kaytlyn (Brandon) Beilke, Lyndsey, Avali, Boden, Kayli Bratberg, great-grandchildren Edynn, Karrick, Kreighton Beilke and many nieces and nephews. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Funeral arrangements are facilitated by Coulee Cremation Group and will be held at their Gathering Place, 133 Mason St. Onalaska. The Celebration of Garnet’s life is on June 14, 2025. Visitation is from 10:00 until the service begins at 11:30, with a light lunch to follow. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Gundersen Foundation Children’s Miracle Network (or your favorite charity).