Denise Aileen (Robin) Garner

Denise Aileen (Robin) Garner, born on March 7, 1965, in Minneapolis, MN, unexpectedly passed away on September 25, 2024. Raised in Apple Valley, MN, Denise graduated class of '83 from Apple Valley High School where she made lifelong friends. Denise was a devoted mother to Matthew (Christianne) Miller, Whitney Garner, Nicole Garner, and Travis Garner. She was the adored grandmother to Elijah Garner and Olivia Garner. She was the beloved daughter of Carol Robin and the late Laurence Robin, and a cherished sister to Donovan (Michelle) Robin and Dustine (Chad) Stevens. Denise worked diligently her entire life. She spent 24 years working for the airlines before going back to school at Metropolitan State University and earning her degree in Social Work. She went on to find purpose and fulfillment as a corrections officer at Lino Lakes Prison. Despite the challenging nature of the work, Denise loved her job, and made an impact on the lives of both the inmates she brought books to and the coworkers who called her "Mom." Known for her thoughtfulness, Denise would send personalized silly thrifted cards to friends and family just to brighten their day. Denise had an extraordinary gift for thrifting, often returning from a thrift store with treasures for loved ones. She was always finding joy in small, simple pleasures like a Michelada or a silly pair of Family Guy socks. She indulged in weird candies like Circus Peanuts or Good & Plenty, and surrounded herself with one-of-a-kind tchotchkes and her own handmade jewelry and wind chimes. She was generous, hardworking, and fiercely supportive of the people she cared about. Her quirky sense of humor and sharp wit were balanced by her love for movies, where she frequently quoted favorites like Napoleon Dynamite and Gentlemen Broncos. Denise had a self diagnosed "unhealthy obsession" with the movie Walk the Line, which she saw seven times in theater, and loved The Sopranos. She listened to hours and hours of books on tape on her commute to work. Her home was a gallery of memories, with photos of her children and grandchildren scattered throughout. She was passionate about preserving the family moments that mattered most in scrap books and framed photos. To this day, her high school friends remember the times they would drive to Minneapolis for a night of dancing - blasting Prince and singing along. She never took life too seriously and always had a way of seeing the punchline in even the most difficult situation. Her loved ones could count on Denise to pick up the phone when they called; a five minute chat could easily turn into a five hour phone call. ' Denise will be deeply missed by all of us, an unparalleled force of nature, who brought so much joy into our worlds. Her spirit will live on through the countless memories she created with her family and friends. Her legacy of love, laughter, and resilience will be cherished by all who knew her. In keeping with her generosity, it came as no surprise that Denise was an organ donor. Through her donations, she has forever changed the lives of the recipients and their family members by giving them a better quality of life. A celebration of Denise's life will be held at the Hillside Chapel at 2610 19th Avenue N.E. Minneapolis, MN 55418 on Saturday December 7th at 11am with visitation one hour prior and a gathering nearby afterward. Please send an RSVP to whitneygarner.art@gmail.com if you are able to attend.

Tributes

Denise Aileen (Robin) Garner

March 7, 1965 - September 25, 2024

Tributes

Denise Aileen (Robin) Garner

March 7, 1965 - September 25, 2024

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