Obituary of Dwight R. Gardner

Dwight Russell Gardner, 88, of rural Iowa City passed away Thursday, November 13, 2014 at Crestview Nursing and Rehab Center in West Branch. A time of visitation will be held 9 a.m. Wednesday, November 26th at the Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City with burial to follow at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. Memorial contributions can be made in his memory to the American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund. Dwight was born at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa the son of Russell and Helen (Siegling) Gardner. He attended country school at Summit Hill School and graduated high school from City High in Iowa City. He met his future wife, Jean Ellsworth, at the Jersey Shore (Ocean Grove) while stationed at Fort Monmouth Army Base; they later married on August 22, 1953, at First Methodist Church in Iowa City. He farmed and they raised their family on a acreage northeast of Iowa City. Dwight was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Iowa City, the American Legion, Farm Bureau, and the Republican Party. He enjoyed bowling in his younger years, playing cards, being on his farm, working as an election judge up into his 80s, going to casinos and travel later in life. Dwight had the gift of gab, a smile on his face, loved to hum and sing along with the radio (off-key), and would never turn down a meal (his favorite holiday was Thanksgiving). He is survived by his three children and their spouses, R. Scott Gardner (Nancy) of Iowa City, IA; Kit Gardner (Alan Bell) of Manalapan, NJ; and Dory Gardner (John Boeker) of Rochester, MN; two grandchildren - Stormy Myhrum, and Matthew Boeker; two step-granddaughters - Christine Walsh (John Sales) and Katie Block (Kyle); five great-grandchildren, Bryston, Brecken, Brooklyn, Blake, and Beckham and one great-step-granddaughter, Ruby.