Fritz and Kathy Garbisch selected as Honored Grandparents
In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a proclamation that designated the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. In the years that followed, the Granton Fall Festival has made that celebration a part of its own festivities that are held on that very same weekend. The Granton FFA has again made its selection of the Honored Grandparents, choosing Fritz and Kathy Garbisch for this year’s honor.
Fritz and Kathy were nominated by their granddaughter, Isabelle Bigaouette, who wrote about the positive relationship she and the other grandchildren have with their grandparents.
“They embrace such wonderful qualities of unconditional love; patience when us grandkids are learning something new; have taught me to trust in my faith; are very generous to me, my cousins, and all people; and they have done a tremendous amount of work for the Granton community over their lifetime,” she wrote in her nomination letter.
Fritz is a lifelong resident of Granton, being born and raised not far from where he lives today with Kathy. He graduated from Granton High School in 1962. In both high school and in his first years out of school, Fritz was heavily involved with the FFA, being not only the Granton FFA president from 1961-62, but also serving as an FFA state officer from 1962-63. After that, Fritz worked, while also serving on the Granton School Board for 18 years, and on the Clark County Board of Supervisors for the past 35 years. He and Kathy also serve on the church council for the Zion Lutheran Church in Granton, and helped teach members of the Pleasant Ridge 4-H club as instructors.
“We also had what was the WJDA which was the Wisconsin Junior Dairyman’s Association, and I was president of that in 1962-62,” he said. “I got my State FFA degree in 1963, and in 1964, I got my American Farmer Degree. I was the first from Granton High School to get that award.”
“I taught knitting and crocheting with the 4-H and he taught dairy cattle and rope braiding, dairy leadership,” added Kathy.
Kathy was originally born in the Neillsville area, moving to Beloit when she was 4 years old. She graduated from Beloit Memorial High School in 1964 and returned to the Neillsville area. For her, it was a call to return to country life, where she has remained ever since with her husband.
“The next day [after I graduated from high school], I
Please see Garbisches, page 9 couldn’t wait to come back up here, say goodbye to the city and come to the country,” she said. “I came up here to see my cousins and stayed with my aunt and uncle. I had met him [Fritz] the year before, but we didn’t date until after I came up here.”
The two of them were married on Sept. 26, 1964, and will soon coming up on their 61st wedding anniversary. Together, they had four children: Randy, Brenda, Shelly and Angel. They also have 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
It is these grandchildren and great-grandchildren who the Garbisches are devoted to, spending time with them and teaching them important life skills and family traditions that they can carry into future generations. The farm is a main source of fun, as Fritz spends time teaching the kids how to feed the animals and how to raise calves to show at the Clark County Fair.
“We have two grandsons who like showing cattle at the fairs, red Guernsey cattle,” said Fritz. “The great-grandchildren like to come by and feed the animals; they are always happy to see the animals when they get food to eat. They’re all smiles.”
“My grandma and grandpa are the nicest people I know,” wrote Isabelle in her nomination letter, “And they have a really fun farm with cows that I love to visit when my mom and dad take me, my brother, and sisters back to my mom’s house. Ever since I was a little kid, I would go to my grandpa’s barn and help him feed his baby calves and cows. My grandpa has taught me to work with animals and even one year, he let me take one of his calves to the Clark County Fair. In the summer, my grandparents let me come stay with them and I get to earn some chore money helping them bale hay, mow lawn, pick berries, and any kind of work around the family farm and house. My grandpa is the hardest worker I know. He has taught me how to work hard at everything I do and how important it is to take care of animals and show them kindness.”
Kathy’s skill lies in food, as she passes on her knowledge of family recipes and other favorites down to the younger members of the family. Pancakes are a beloved breakfast meal, and the couple hosts family get-togethers for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter each year.
“My grandma is one of the most caring, strong, compassionate, and loving people I know,” wrote Isabelle. “We have a very special bond and when I am at her house, she teaches me how to cook all her favorite recipes in the kitchen from her side of the family and from my grandpa’s family. She lets me help her make some great German food like poppyseed dumplings, apple kuchen, German potato salad, and homemade bread.”
Both Fritz and Kathy said family is a very important thing to them, and they try to take part in as many parts of their children’s, grandchildren’s, and great-grandchildren’s lives as they can.
“I would say just being around the kids and interacting with them is important,” said Kathy. “We always were involved with what they did, and you can pass down what is important, their faith and important values to live by. Afamily that prays together stays together. Be proud of who you are.
“Enjoy being with your kids, and be a part of their lives as they’re growing up,” added Fritz.
