Howard Russell Garwick

Howard Russell Garwick was born on December 31, 1939, to Russell and Darlene Garwick in Perry, Iowa.  The family lived in the Dallas Center and Des Moines area where Howard learned trade skills from his father.  He operated a newspaper route and participated in basketball.  Howard graduated from Dallas Center High School in 1958.  He then moved to McPherson, Kansas to attend college where he met Gail Fillmore.

Howard was a Conscientious Objector and wanted to participate in some type of service.  He volunteered with the Brethren Volunteer Service and worked on the mission field in Nigeria from 1960-1962.  During his time overseas, he maintained contact with Gail and rekindled their relationship upon his return to the States.  The couple were married on August 15, 1965, at the Nampa Church of the Brethren in Nampa, Idaho.  They began their married life in Sterling, Kansas where Howard worked at a Chevrolet dealership as an auto mechanic.

They welcomed their first child, Carmen, in 1968 while still living in Kansas and then moved to Idaho where Howard worked as an auto mechanic for Edmark Chevrolet and Happy Day Ford.  Son, Stephen, was born in 1970 and daughter, Lovena, in 1971. Howard was Vocational teacher in the COSSA program at Homedale High School and an Auto mechanics instructor at Meridian High School until 1989.  He also worked in roofing, construction and inspection until he retired.  Howard was a "Jack-of-all-trades", who was knowledgeable in farming, plumbing, electrical, construction and mechanics.

Howard's favorite hobby was fishing and camping with family and friends.  He loved doing things for other people, be it fixing cars or helping with building projects.  He made many trips with the Brethren Volunteer Service to work on disaster clean-up throughout the United States.  

Howard was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Darlene, and his sister, Sara.  He is survived by wife, Gail [Fillmore]; children - Carmen [Todd] Garlie, Stephen [Jennifer] Garwick, and Lovena [Mike] Magalsky; nine grandchildren - Kristen [Lars] Alsager, Lauren [Morgan] Fife, Madisen [Garrett] Martens, Aaron Magalsky, Grace Magalsky, Abigail Magalsky, Gabriel Magalsky, Adley Garwick, Piper Garwick; three great-grandchildren - Kyler & Kayder Alsager, and Elsie Fife; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and multiple neices and nephews.

The family invites all who knew and loved Howard to attend a Celebration of Life open house at the Nampa Church of the Brethren (11030 Orchard Avenue - Nampa, ID) on August 5 from 6-9PM.  In leiu of flowers, donations may be made to the Brethren Volunteer Service, care of the Nampa Church of the Brethren. Arrangements are under the direction of the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel where an online guest book and full obituary is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com

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