Garrett D. Salmon

GARRETT D. SALMON , age 75 of Olathe, Kansas and Waterville, Minnesota, died peacefully on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at the Waterville Good Samaritan Center.

Born in Waterville, at his grandparents’ home, on Sunday evening September 12, 1938, Garrett was the son of Wallace and Uzada (Morsching) Salmon.  Shortly following his birth, Garrett’s family left Waterville when his father helped close the Waterville CCC camp and transferred to Maple Lake.  After he helped close the camp there, the family moved to Minneapolis where they remained until returning to Waterville in 1945.  Garrett enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard on his 17th birthday, and graduated from Waterville High School in 1956. He later volunteered for service with the US Fifth Army, serving at Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Sam Houston, and Camp Bullis, TX, returning to college in spring of 1958. He received his honorable discharge in 1961, the same year that he graduated from Mankato State College.  He began his career with FDA that summer at the Minneapolis district as a bench chemist. He transferred to the Detroit District in 1969 where he served as Supervisory Chemist until the end of 1979. He was promoted to Lab Director at the Kansas City District where he directed the Total Diet Studies program.  He was reassigned as Research Center Director in 1992, directing research chemists in Detroit, Denver, and Kansas City.  An oral interview of his entire career with the FDA has been archived with the FDA History Office outside of Washington, DC.

Garrett was a hero to his family because of his steadfast position as a kind, decent, loyal husband, father, and grandfather. He was a truly special man and the backbone of the family through his 42 year marriage to his lovely, faithful, kind wife Bonnie who was the heart of the family.  Together they served as role models - never quitting through good times or through bad times - keeping up through a series of health issues beginning in 1984, and a major house fire in 1995.  Garrett enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, gardening, and was a voracious reader and collector. He was a member of various conservation groups (Ducks Unlimited and American Forestry Association among others). He currently holds life membership in NRA, NAH, and has served 52 years with AOAC. He has been promoting and practicing the "green" way of life for more than 50 years.  Since retiring in August 1999, he spent summers in Waterville and restored 3 outbuildings, modernized his birth home, was in process of rehabilitating the house in which he grew up, restored a boat, a Ford tractor, and a 1930 Chevy. Being naturally reserved (the strong silent type), he was reluctant to voice or advertise the above accomplishments so few people knew of them. He was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Olathe, KS, and past member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Waterville, MN.

Garrett is survived by his wife of 42 years, Bonnie of Olathe, KS; three beautiful and talented daughters, Patty (Silas) Mauk of Mankato, Tara (Brian) Nickel of Denver, CO, and Janie Salmon of Eden Prairie; two granddaughters; one grandson; and two sisters, WallisAnn Jondal of Roseville and Susan Hermel of Waterville.  He was preceded in death by both of his parents; and one sister, Kathleen Salmon-Joyner.

Garrett’s family would like to thank the many friends and relatives for their prayers, visits, cards, and thoughts during his illness.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 PM on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at Dennis Funeral & Cremation Services in Waterville, and will continue one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waterville, with Rev. David Mumme officiating.  Interment will follow at Sakatah Cemetery in Waterville.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church in Waterville or St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Olathe, Kansas.