GARDNER, Fred Clinton 1873-1915

GARDNER, BURR, SHADD

Posted By: Don Gardner (email)
Date: 5/22/2004 at 11:51:05

THE REPORTER
By W. G. Smith

Rock Rapids, Iowa, Nov. 4, 1915

FRED CLINTON GARDNER.

Fred Clinton Gardner was born in Elgin, Iowa, on the 4th day of October, 1873, and died at the home of his mother in Rock Rapids on the 29th day of October, 1915, aged 42 years and 25 days, the immediate cause of his death being a stroke of appoplexy sustained on Sunday evening, October 24, from which he never regained consciousness.

When Clint was but a little child his father's family moved to West Union, Iowa, and in the year 1880, came to Rock Rapids, where they have resided continuously and from whence Clint was called to make the journey to that "undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns."

He leaves to mourn his untimely death his widowed mother, Mrs. W. W. Gardner, one sister Kitty May, of this place; two brothers, Dan F., of Rock Rapids, and Don G., Makoti, N. D. It has been but a few short months since the father, Captain W. W. Gardner, was called to the Beyond, since which time Clint has been the mainstay of his mother's home, and toward whom he has always shown the tenderest regards, anticipating her every want and, always anxious to make her widowed life as pleasant as was possible. This same attitude was maintained toward the other members of the family.

Clint grew up in this community and his life was an open book. When he was ten years old, he was baptized into the Christian faith and no doubt always believed in the hereafter. When the Spanish-American War broke out he was among the first to answer his country's call, and while going only as far a Chickamagua, Tennessee, would have willingly gone wherever needed in the service. When troops were no longer needed, he received an honorable discharge and returned to this place. Here he has since worked at the trade of painter and paper-hanger and was busy until stopped by the stroke that caused his death, and where he has made a host of friends by his genial, accommodating ways.

The book of life is closed now. Scarcely half the pages have been written upon, but the record shall be handed to the judge of us all, who "doeth all things well." He shall read the context, while we mortals are able but to read the text itself.

Funeral services were held at the house on Sunday afternoon, conducted by the pastor of the Christian church, Rev. A. A. Burr, and the remains were taken to the Riverview cemetery, where they were laid to rest beside the father, brother and sister, who preceeded him. At the home a great concourse of persons gathered to pay a last tribute of respect to the departed, and all unite in offering heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family.

Those attending the services from a distance were Don, of Makota, N. D., brother of the deceased, and Mrs. Charles Shadd, Estherville, Iowa, sister of Mrs. W. W. Gardner.