Gardner, John Paul 1917 – 2000

GARDNER, BUTLER, HERMANSON, BUNTEN, PALMERSHEIM

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 8/1/2016 at 15:56:53

Source: New Hampton Tribune January 4, 2000, P.A4
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee

ELMA -- John Gardner, 82, died Saturday, Jan. 1 at his home in Elma of natural causes. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 4 at Immaculate Conception Church in Elma with Rev. Roger R. Rethamel and Rev. Frank Benda officiating. Suzy Palmersheim was the organist and accompanied Jenny Gardner; along with the Immaculate Conception Resurrection Choir singing "Be Not Afraid", "Only A Shadow", "I Am The Bread Of Life" and "Battle Hymn Of The Republic". Sam Kramer was the lector. Mass servers were Justin and Jason Gardner and Joshua Buehler. Gift bearers were Shaina, Tina and Becky Gardner. Eucharistic Ministers were Keith Roethler and and Delbert Palmersheim. Pall placers were Brian Palmersheim, Christy Brandt, Cassie Gardner, Sara Gardner and Kim Stoddard.

Burial was in the Calvary Cemetery with Kerry McLachlan, Joe McLachlan, Steve Gardner, Andy Gardner, John Gardner, David Gardner, Jesse Einck, Brad Gardner, Brian Palmersheim, Nick Webster, Jeremy Gardner, Nick Palmersheim, Christopher Gardner, Michael Gardner and Charles Gardner serving as casket bearers.

Graveside military honors were accorded by the John Frahm American Legion Post of Elma.

Visitation was held from 3 to 8 .m. on Monday, Jan. 3 at Conway Funeral Home in Elma where there was a 4 p.m. Rosary and a 7.p.m. Scripture Service.

John Paul Gardner was born Jan. 16, 1917 near Elma, the son of William and Mamie (Butler) Gardner. He graduated from the Immaculate Conception Academy in 1935. After his graduation at the age of 22 he joined the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II and was assigned to the 459th Bomber Group. He was shot down over Germany and was a prisoner of war for 11 months. After being honorably discharged he returned to the Elma area to work on the family farm. He was married to Vivian Hermanson. He retired from farming in 1978 and moved to Elma in 1986.

Survivors include two daughters, Ann Bunten and her husband, Hugh, Harvard, IL and Mary Jane Palmersheim and her husband, Jerald, Elma; nine sons, James and his wife, Mary, El Salvador, William and his wife, Jeri, Crystal Lake, MN, Thomas and his wife, Cindy, Cedar Rapids, Greg and his wife, Karla, Mason City, Charles and his wife, Karen, Robins, Patrick and his wife, Diana, Cedar Rapids, Kevin and his wife, Mary, Chicago, IL, Nicholas and his wife, Teri, Marion and Randall and his wife, Jeanie, Marion; 30 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one sister, Sister Mary Lenore, Earlville; and two brothers, Fred, Elma and Frank, Currie, MN.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Vivian, on Dec. 22, 1986; one son, Leon Richard Gardner, on Nov. 22, 1992; his parents; three brothers, Linus, George and Joe; and one sister, Marie Gardner.

Calvary Elma Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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