Netzel C. Harriet Bott

Harriet C. Netzel Bott, of La Crosse, passed away peacefully in her sleep Monday morning at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital.   She was the daughter of Walter F. Netzel and Clara (Gesteland) Netzel of Crandon, Wisconsin.  She graduated from the University of Wisconsin as a Registered Nurse, and worked for a time in hospitals in Chicago, San Francisco, and much later, St. Francis in La Crosse.  In 1950 she married Albert Willis Bott of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and together they built a home in La Crescent, Minnesota.  She freely shared her talents with her community, teaching first aid, working with the Girl Scouts, and volunteering at the local Red Cross blood drives.  She was an active member of the Church of the Crucifixion, taught religion classes, and passed her deep faith in the power of God to her six children. She was a talented pianist, and often accompanied her husband’s tenor voice.  Flower gardening was one of her life-long passions.  Her perennial gardens were lovely mixes of blues and pinks, and she advised her neighbors, friends, and children on horticultural techniques.

She was, most of all, a consummate textile artist.  She designed clothes for her children, and dolls for hospitalized children.  She knit sweaters and mittens for charity, learned to spin, dye, and weave, and helped organize several local artist groups. She was best known for her quilting, which won prizes at state fairs and other competitions. In her golden years she designed hundreds of smaller quilts for newborn babies.  Harriet received a Presidential Point of Light award for her volunteer services.

She will be sorely missed by her husband of 62 years, Albert, her brother, Walter Netzel of Coulee Dam, Washington, and sisters Miriam Babula of Monroe, Wisconsin, Elysa Rae of Chambersburg, Penn., and Marjorie Dexheimer of York, Penn.  Also grieving are her six children, Carolyn Ann Bott of La Crosse, Susan Marie Bott of Onalaska, Kathryn Jean Salazar of Seattle, Washington, Laraine Rose Fraley of Mankato, Minn., Margaret Kay Andersen of Onalaska, and Michael John Bott of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, ten grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren. 

A visitation and memorial gathering will be held at the Blashke & Schneider Funeral Home, 1501 West Ave. South on Saturday May 26th from 11:00A.M -1:00 P.M.     In lieu of flowers, Harriet would have appreciated contributions to her favorite charity, Heifer International