Mary Lou G. Howe

Mary Lou G. Howe, 81, of Columbus passed away on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at Columbia County Health Care Center in Wyocena. Mary Lou was born the daughter of Herman and Bertha (Seier) Gretzinger on July 6, 1939 in Columbus. She was a graduate of Fall River High School and Columbia County Normal. She was married to David Howe on June 28, 1958 at Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Columbus. Mary Lou ran an in-home daycare for many years. She later retired from We Tan U in Columbus. Mary Lou was a member of Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Columbus. She enjoyed golfing, bowling, playing cards and attending sporting events. Mary Lou loved to garden. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mary Lou is survived by her husband David of Columbus; six children: Brenda (Terry) Brace of Columbus, Sandra (Mick) Gerber of Columbus, Jean (John) Sharpee of Wisconsin Dells, Joanne (Gene) Bohn of Bourbonnais, IL, Lisa (Jim) Bohn of Waukesha, and Diane (Corey) Neuman of Fall River; 14 grandchildren: Andrea (Eric) Wescott, Stuart Wescott, Nicholas (Laura) Wiese, Elizabeth Gerber, Heidi (Brian) Kerr, Holly (Nick) Pfeffer, Heather (Paul) Jeske, Jeremy (Lindsay) Bohn, Justin (Tiffany) Bohn, Jacob Bohn, Andrew (Janet) Bohn, Erika Dugger, Emily Neuman, and Hannah Neuman; nine great grandchildren: Fox, Vivienne, Tara, Alex, Saige, Ivy, Haillie, Lily, and Isaiah; her brother Bill (Joyce) Gretzinger of Fall River; sisters-in-law Darlene (Charlie) Jones of Columbus and Arlene Gretzinger of WA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Bob Gretzinger; and her sister-in-law Donna Gretzinger. A private family funeral will take place at Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Columbus with Rev. Benjamin Zuberbier officiating. Interment will take place at Fountain Prairie Cemetery, township of Fountain Prairie. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Columbus or directly to the Howe family for a future charitable memorial designation. The Howe family would like to thank the staff at Columbia Co. Health Care Center in Wyocena for their care and support.