On July 27th, an EF3 tornado tore through Carl Garrow’s yard in Neenah, Wisconsin, leaving devastation in its wake. The tornado damaged Carl’s garage and destroyed most of his towering trees—trees that had shaded the simple Lake Winnebago cottage where Carl has lived since the 1970s. These trees attracted and protected wildlife, and all summer Carl’s wife Linda had watched a doe and her two fawns roam the yard. When the tornado struck, Carl and Linda huddled in a back room, as their cottage has no basement. Linda looked out the window to see their beautiful trees crashing down, torn to shreds. In the middle of the yard stood one of the tiny fawns, frozen with fear. It broke her heart to see the small, helpless fawn standing there alone. All she could do was pray.

Musicians and audiophiles across Wisconsin know Carl and have depended on his expertise and knowledge of electronics to restore and repair their audio gear. Since the 1980s—first at Henri’s Music and now at Island Music—Carl has been dedicated to fixing whatever people bring to his workbench, from tube amps to microphones to vintage radios, always working to keep the music playing. Carl is 80 years old and an Army veteran, having first learned electronics in the military. He is always there when Fox Valley music lovers ask for his help.

Now Carl needs your help. The estimate Carl and Linda were given for tree cleanup alone is more than $40,000, and it’s not covered by insurance. They need to replace electrical wiring to restore power and water, and their garage is a total loss. We are Carl’s co-workers at Island Music, and we are blessed to have Carl—with his skill, patience, and stories—working beside us every day. We are raising money to help Carl and Linda get their lives back to normal. We are grateful for any donation, no matter the amount. Thank you for supporting Carl and Linda during this difficult time.