Howard Francis Kothlow

Howard's mom died when he was a baby, so he lived with his aunts in town for a couple of years

before joining his dad and new step mom at the family farm. From there he and his big sister Janet

grew up on the family farm in Menomonie. Dad joined the US Navy at the young age of 17. Dad

worked as an aviation mechanic in Memphis, Tennessee.

Howard met and married the love of his life Eleanor Jean Wangen on May 20, 1950. When dad walked

into that malt shop, mom said, "I'm going to marry that guy!" Howard and Eleanor lived in Eau Claire

and started their "little family" beginning with their firstborn Marcia in March, 1951, followed by their

son Randy in March, 1952, daughter Connie in July of 1954, son Neil in November of 1955, daughter

Christine in August of 1959, son Brian in February of 1961, and last but not least, son Mark in January,

1965.

Mom and dad bought the family farm after Marcia was born. Howard and Ellie farmed until

November of 1960 when they took a life step and moved to Colorado to start a new life off the farm.

Their daughter Connie had asthma that required a different climate and environment away from the

farm. Dad did what was best for his family and moved them to Brighton, Colorado, where he worked

at the feed store. He later got a job with Ralston Purina in Denver, Colorado where he retired from

after 29 years. Job well done dad! The Ralston family was good to dad, and he gave it all he had. Our

family fondly remembers all the Ralston Purina picnics. We loved to go!

The family later moved to Northglenn, Colorado where all the kids grew up. Grandchildren started

arriving in 1970, so there were babies around again too. After dad retired, mom and dad enjoyed

their drives and picnic lunches up in the mountains and out in the country. Dad loved to walk. He and

mom loved their many walks out in nature near home where they loved all the critters they got to

see. After mom passed away in 2002, dad sold their home and he moved into independent living.

That was base camp and he walked to all his stores from there. It was common for him to put in 20

miles a week. He hit it early in the morning before the sun came up!

Dad stayed active until last January. He transitioned to the nursing home where he spent the Covid

year until late October when he came home to his daughter Chris's house. He was pretty excited to

be there, and relished in being able to go about. Unfortunately, dad brought Covid with him, and was

very ill with that for weeks. He recovered, but never really gained back strength. He was at home

with his children when he passed on January 26, 2021.

Howard is survived by his seven children Marcia (Tom) Kast, Randy (Karen), Connie (John) Stimmel,

Neil (Debbie), Chris (Olen) Herschberger, Brian (Ann), and Mark. Dad also leaves behind 15

grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandson. He is predeceased by his wife

Eleanor, as well as his parents and sister Janet. He leaves behind many nieces & nephews as well as

his brother in-law Don (Carol), and sister-in-law Grace Trudell.