Jennifer Marie (Tweeten) Garness

Jennifer Marie (Tweeten) Garness, 69, of Mabel, Minn., died Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center.

Jennifer Marie (Tweeten) Garness was born on July 9, 1952, in Spring Grove, Minn., to Morris and Geneva (Berquam) Tweeten.  She was the second daughter born to a family of five children.

Growing up on a farm in rural Spring Grove, she learned the value of hard work and became responsible for the “inside chores” of cleaning, baking, and preparing meals for the family she loved. She attended Spring Grove Public School, where she found two of her passions – performance and cheerleading.  At the age of eight, Jeni traveled, sharing “The Shoe Story” with several different communities.  She became famous for her storytelling and even in her later years was remembered by those who had heard her.  As a cheerleading captain for both football and basketball teams, she inspired many with her energy and passion. Jeni graduated from Spring Grove high School in May 1970.  Yearning to see new places and have new experiences, she attended Winona Technical Institute, and graduated from the Cosmetology program in June 1972. After graduating she worked as a professional cosmetologist in Minneapolis, Minn., and La Crosse, Wis.

On October 26, 1972, she married Dale Garness of Mabel, Minn., and to this union two children were born: Amy (Jeremy) Lee of Spring Grove, and Matthew (Brooke) Garness of Mabel, and five grandchildren: Kyle and Breanna Lee, and Samuel, Henry, and Everett Garness.

Just as in her youth, Jeni found joy in making a house a home for those she loved. Cooking was her passion and for several years she was employed at the Harmony Care Center, lovingly creating meals for its residents.  Jeni filled her life planning parties of all sorts, for weddings, birthdays, and holiday gatherings.  Gift giving was her love language and one of her greatest joys.  Jeni loved to shop and lived to give, showering those she loved, especially the children in her life, with gifts given from the heart.  She loved sharing her creativity with others, especially inspiring children through her volunteer programs at the Mabel Public Library.  Jeni was also an active member of Mabel First Lutheran Church. 

Jennifer was preceded in death by her father Morris Tweeten, her sister Jaclyn Tweeten Morken, father-in-law Burnell Garness, and mother-in-law Bernice (Larson) Garness.

She is survived by her husband Dale Garness, her children Amy (Jeremy) Lee and Matthew (Brooke) Garness, her grandchildren Kyle and Breanna Lee, and Samuel, Henry, and Everett Garness; her mother Geneva (Berquam) Tweeten, her siblings Marsha Tweeten Wolfgram, Michael (Donna) Tweeten, and Taresa Tweeten.

Private family funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 27 at 2 p.m. at the Mabel First Lutheran Church in Mabel. Visitation will be 12:30 to 1:45 on Thursday at the church prior to the family service. Burial will be in the Mabel Lutheran Cemetery.