Lula Marie Garnes

Lula Marie Garnes, age 93, of Bayard, IA, passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024 at Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 22, 2024 at 10:30 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids with Pastor Kevin Evers officiating. Casket bearers will be Lula’s family members. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery in rural Bayard.

Visitation will be held Friday morning from 9:30 A.M. until 10:15 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids prior to the funeral service.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com

Lula was born on June 15, 1931 at her family’s farm south of Bayard and she was the daughter of Joseph Wilson and Anna “Cassie” Catherina (Schwartz) Garnes. She grew up on two farms south of Bayard and graduated from Bayard Consolidated Schools in 1948. Lula’s father passed away following high school and she stayed on the farm to help her mother. She began teaching piano lessons in their home and continued to give lessons well into her nineties. Lula felt teaching was a calling and she taught hundreds of students over the years. She also taught voice lessons. She studied piano with Edward Tourechek in Carroll and voice with Nancy Bolten in Ft. Dodge.  She took organ lessons from Dr. Stapleton at Drake University, and she also studied organ with Mona Holmstrom. Lula played the organ for several local churches over the years including Bayard, Greenbriar, Bagley, and was the regular organist at the Coon Rapids Methodist Church since 1974. Music was Lula’s life, and she dearly loved being on her farm.

Lula is survived by several nieces and nephews and other extended family.

Lula was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Cassie Garnes; three sisters: Verna Clark (Ralph), LaVonne Mozena (Paul), and Wilma Erb (DuWayne); two brothers: Loren Garnes (Ruth) who died in WWII, and Lester Garnes (Katherine); and several nieces and nephews.