Anderson Funeral Home
Homeserving families for over 70 years
312 South Stone St.
Augusta, WI 54722
715-286-2222
Connie Howell
Connie Jean Howell, 57, passed away unexpectedly November 20, 2024, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Osseo, WI.
Connie, daughter of Odean and Catherine (Dutter) Schreiner, was born February 14, 1967, in Eau Claire, WI. She was raised in Augusta, where she attended school and graduated from Augusta High School in 1986. Connie spent several years in the 1990s volunteering at the Augusta Nursing Home feeding residents, which she loved. This resulted for her attending classes at Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire, WI, earning her CNA license in 1994. She was employed at the Osseo Nursing Home for a year before being hired at the Augusta Nursing Home in 1996. It was here she would work for the rest of her life.
After having her first child in 1987, it was just the two of them until Connie married Robert Colby on April 1, 1997, at the Eau Claire County Courthouse. The couple enjoyed many happy years together, residing in Woodland Meadows Mobile Home Park. Connie and Bob enjoyed going out to eat, seeing movies, and spending time together at home. They had four children: Jennifer, Christopher, Ryan, and Jacob.
When Connie wasn’t working or spending time with family, she enjoyed being at home, listening to music, keeping up with her tv shows, and playing mobile games. A true definition of a homebody, she much preferred staying in to going out. Connie had a great love for cats, hummingbirds, flowers, and her favorite snacks.
Connie had a very close and special relationship with her mother, Catherine. For many years, they lived in the same apartment complex. As her mother aged and her health declined, Connie was there to care for her, both at home and then at work, when Catherine became a resident of the nursing home at which she was employed. When Connie lost her mom in 2011, she never stopped missing her, as her own children will never stop missing her.
Connie is survived by two daughters: Amanda (Shane) Gerike and Jennifer Colby, both of Augusta; three sons: Christopher Colby, Ryan Colby, and Jacob Colby, all of Augusta; former husband and father of her children: Robert Colby, four grandchildren: Jeremiah Gerike, Shayla Gerike, Camden Gerike, and Gemma Gerike, all of Augusta; three sisters: Juanita Godfrey of Gresham, OR, Nancy Dean of Ladysmith, WI, and Julie Walters of El Mirage, AZ; three brother: Walter Johnson of Augusta, Dean Schreiner of Eau Claire, and Greg Schreiner of Colfax, WI ; special friend: Mark Gooden and many cousins, nieces, and nephews that she held dear in her heart.
Connie was preceded in death by her parents Catherine and Odean Schreiner; grandparents Henry and Fern (Stevens) Dutter and Otto and Josephine (Wold) Schreiner; and her beloved cat, Snowball.
A Celebration of Life for Connie will be held Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, from noon to 5 p.m. at the stone barn at 113 W. Grant Street across from the funeral home.
Online condolences can be left at www.andersonfhaugusta.com
