Obituary of Betty A. Gardiner

March 20, 2017, at the Solon Nursing Care Center. A time for family and friends to gather to remember Betty’s life, will be from 5pm to 7pm Thursday, March 23rd, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Private family burial services will be at the Wellman Cemetery on Friday at 1:00pm. Betty Arlene Gardiner (Amlong) was born December 12, 1926 in Washington County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Cecil and Audrey (Haller) Amlong. Following graduation from Thornburg High School, she married Robert Gardiner Sr. The couple began a family together with the birth of their two children, Robert and Debbie. Betty loved caring and spending time with her family. She devoted much of her time and energy as a caregiver to family members and loved spending many years helping around her son’s meat market business formally in North Liberty. She learned much along the way, she was an avid crafter, quilter, gardener of both vegetables and flowers, and an avid reader. She took pride and joy in hand crocheting many beautiful Easter baskets for family and friends throughout the years. She also kept everyone’s sweet tooth alive with her famous peanut brittle!! All traits that would serve her well as she entered the workforce at the University of Iowa Library. For over 20 years, she worked in the library, and volunteered another 20 years at the Veterans Administration Hospital. During all of this, she was involved in her church, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and the Old Capital Chapter of the A.B.W.A. having been elected Woman of the year in 1995. Betty’s memories will continue to serve a purpose among family and friends. As her love, experience, and advice, will carry on through future generations. Betty’s willingness to help others was a quality valued above the rest. She lived a full life surrounded by loved ones. Betty is survived by: Son Rob Gardiner and his wife Dixie, daughter Debbie Patton, her sister, Thelma Elliott; 5 grandchildren, Lindsey Eakes (Clinton), Kyle Gardiner, Jennifer Albright (Shawn), Lindsey Martinson (Mike), Ashley Richards; 6 great-grandchildren; Callie, Ivan, Victoria, Madalyn, Makenzie, Faith and numerous nieces and nephews. Betty is proceeded in death by: Her parents and brother. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made in honor of The Betty Gardiner memorial fund.