Obituary of Wayne Gardner

Wayne Gardner, 87, of Iowa City, died Friday, January 28, 2011, at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Iowa City. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 1, 2011, at St. Marks United Methodist Church, Iowa City with visitation from 2 to7 p.m., Monday at the Gay & Ciha Funeral Service in Iowa City with a Masonic service at 7 p.m. Interment with military honors will take place at Memory Gardens Cemetery, Iowa City. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital or Iowa City Hospice. Online condolences may be sent to Wayne’s family through the web @www.gayandciha.com. Wayne Gardner was born April 8, 1923 in Washington County, Iowa, the son of Bertha (Emde) and Harry Gardner Sr. He graduated from North English High School in 1941. He attended Kirkwood Community College earning his certificate in welding. Wayne served in the United States Marine Corps during WWII. On June 8, 1950, Wayne married Goldie Burkley in Kalona. He worked as a plumber at the University of Iowa for 18 years and as a cook, baker and meat cutter at the VA Hospital for 14 years. He spent 18 months in Greenland on an expedition for North Atlantic Contractors. Wayne and Goldie were both long-time residents of Iowa City, living here since 1950. Wayne was a long-time member of St. Marks United Methodist Church, active in the Masonic, White Shrine and OES organizations both locally and on the state level, as well as being a member of the Iowa City American Legion. One of Wayne’s pleasures was being one of the Crazy Clowns with the KAABA Temple Shrine. Wayne was also very fond of his volunteer years at the Senior Center in Iowa City. His family includes their children, Joyce Rossie (Jim) of Iowa City; Allan Gardner (Brenda) of West Branch, Julie Barnes (Art) of Iowa City; Joanne Moore (Steve) of Iowa City and Arthur Gardner (Julie) of Council Bluffs, IA; grandchildren, Brian Rossie, Michelle Rummelhart and her husband, Scott, Gregg Gardner, Carl Gardner, Joshua Gardner, Andrew Gardner, Melissa Leyh and her husband, Sam, Krystle Barnes, Jonathan Barnes, Nathan Gardner and his wife, Shannon, Zach Moore and his wife, Erica, Zeb Moore, Michael Moore, Abby Gardner, Jacob Gardner, Jared Gardner, Ryan Ostdiek, Dakota Ostdiek, and Shaylie Gardner; great-grandchildren, Allison and Anthony Rummelhart, Paisley and Avery Gardner, Tayte and Teagan Moore and Elijah Ostdiek; brothers, Frank and Burrell Gardner as well as a special friend, Lorene Frenzen. He was preceded in death by his wife, Goldie; his parents; sister, Kathleen Calvin and brother, Harry Gardner II. Wayne’s family would like to acknowledge the great care and compassion the doctors and nurses of 7W (VAMC) shared with Wayne and his family, making these last two weeks as enjoyable and memorable as they could have been, Thank You! Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City is caring for Wayne’s family and his services.