Renate "Renee" Ilse Fowler

Renate I Fowler

March 23, 1940, to July 29, 2025

On July 29th, 2025, sadly our family lost Renate (Renee) Fowler. Our beloved mother, mother in-law, grandmother “Omi”, great grandmother. She is now among the family of angels being the bright light we all knew her as.

Born on March 23rd, 1940, in Leipzig Germany. During World War II Renate was moved with her brother Gunter to Regansburg Germany and their sister Karla stayed in Leipzig with other relatives during the separation of East and West Germany, which kept them apart for many years only to reunite when they finally could.

At the young age of 16, Renate was a waitress in a family restaurant. Gerald Fowler was stationed in Germany while in the Air Force when they met for the first time. He returned a couple of years later to find her again and began a courtship. Soon after, they moved to the United States, to begin their future together.

They were married May 28th, 1960, in Amery Wisconsin. At this time, she only knew how to speak German and began the journey to learn English from her husband, watching local television, other people around her. Gerald was happy to teach her how to drive his Mustang which was a manual transmission. During the coming years she also worked on becoming a U.S. Citizen in which she was able to accomplish in 1967

Together they had four children and due to Gerald being in the Air Force their children were born in different areas of the United States and Germany. Thomas was born in Havre Montana in 1961, David was born in Sunnyvale California in 1962, Monique was born in South St. Paul Minnesota in 1966 and Steven was born in Mannheim Germany in 1970. She was very proud of her children wherever life had taken them. She loved her family very much and would do anything for them.

Renate enjoyed fashion so much she was able to become a part of Fredrick’s of Hollywood and worked her way to management in California. She enjoyed working for Fredrick’s so much that when they moved to Minnesota she decided to work for the local location and did so for over a decade. She also worked for a local EZ Stop station store and worked her way to management as well.

Renate will be dearly missed by the many loved ones and friends that she has made through the years at locations she had lived. She enjoyed traveling with her best friend, Erika Lindner whom she considered family. She looked forward to going out with her many friends to enjoy laughter and stories. She looked forward to outings with family and friends. Going to the various different casinos. Loved to shop online for all the kids, it made her so happy, she looked forward to the smiles and happiness she could provide.

Later in life she was comforted by being home playing games and watching her favorite shows. She also said she had the best seat in the house being able to watch out into the back yard watching the wildlife, flower gardens grow, watch the fireworks on the fourth of July.

Renate is preceded in death by husband, Gerald Fowler; son, David Fowler; parents, Herbert Liebeskind and Ilse Kuhnert; brother, Henry; daughter in-law, Carol Fowler.

Survived by brother, Gunter Liebeskind (Waltraut ); sister, Karla Bugenings; cousin; Sabine Mandl; children, Thomas Fowler (DeDe), Monique Gillen (Tom), Steven Fowler(Johanna); daughter in-law, Becci Splettstoeszer; grandchildren, Shawn Splettstoeszer(Amanda), Kassie Fowler, Zayne Fowler, Joelle Fowler(Rafael), Cece Fowler, Clayton Fowler, Courtney Fowler, Step Grandchildren, Amanda Gillen, Rachael Gillen; three greatgrandchildren, Millie, David and Hope; three step great grandchildren, Joselyn, Ryder and Paisley; nieces, Nicole and Christine, Claudia, Ilka (Mario), Grit and Nannette; as well as many Great Nieces and Nephews.

A gathering honoring Renee's life will be held 11-1, on Saturday, September 20th, 2025, at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake, MN.  A Memorial Service will be held at 12 PM at the funeral home.  Interment at East Lincoln Cemetery in Amery, WI.