Marie Kate (Christensen) GAARD

GAARD, CHRISTENSEN, PETERSON, KESTLER, DEMPSEY, AKERS, SPENCER, MOSES

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/27/2012 at 13:44:46

February 14, 1915 --- June 20, 2012

Marie Gaard
Pella, Iowa — Marie Kate Christensen was a daughter of Jens and Lillie (Peterson) Christensen. She was born on February 14, 1915, on a farm in Franklin County, Iowa. Marie, a good student in mathematics, graduated from Popejoy High School at Popejoy, Iowa at the age of 16 years. She continued living with her parents and her four siblings on the family farm. Marie met Emery Kermit Gaard while both employed at the Canning Factory in Hampton, Iowa . They were united in marriage on March 18, 1939 in Kansas City, Missouri while Emery was working at the Marshall Canning Factory in Marshalltown, Iowa. To this union two sons were born: Thomas Jefferson and Rodney Joel. Emery continued in the employ of the Marshall Canning Factory and in 1947 became Superintendent of the Pella Canning Factory in Pella, Iowa. Marie and Emery raised their two sons in Pella and in 1955 purchased an interest in the business, known as the Pella Canning Company. Both Tom and Rodney graduated from Pella High School and Central College in Pella. During this time Marie worked at the Snack Bar on the campus of Central College. She made many homemade pies for college students and by virtue of her presence, assumed the role of a "campus mother". Following their retirements Marie and Emery continued to live in Pella and were traveling to the state of California when he passed away unexpectedly on January 28, 1982, at the age of 71 years. Marie accepted widowhood graciously and in 2000 moved into the Illahee Hills Retirement Home in Urbandale, Iowa. The family wishes to thank the caregivers of Accessible Home Health Care and the staff at Illahee Hills for their care and support.

On Wednesday morning, June 20, 2012, Marie passed away at Mercy Hospice in Johnston, Iowa at the age of 97 years. She is survived by her two sons and their families: Tom Gaard and his wife, Charlene, of Clive, Iowa; Rodney Gaard and his wife, Lois, of McHenry, Illinois and their four children: Melissa and Jeff Kestler and their two daughters: Mikayla and Susannah Kestler, of Princess Anne, Maryland, Joseph and Colleen Gaard of Carmel, Indiana, Derrick Gaard of St. Charles, Illinois and Kristin and Pat Dempsey and their daughter, Hadleigh Dempsey, of Norwalk, Iowa. Of her original family Marie leaves two younger sisters: Hilda (Maurice) Akers of Iowa Falls, Iowa, and Ethel (Hareld) Spencer of Vacaville, California; and a sister-in-law, Ileene (Leo) Christensen of Charles City, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her husband, Emery; her parents, Jens and Lillie Christensen; her parents-in-law, Ole and Della (Moses) Gaard; and her two brothers: Leo Christensen and Nels Christensen. Marie was a member of the Second Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa. Graveside services were held on Saturday, June 23, 2012 at Oakwood Cemetery in Pella. Arrangements were handled by Van Dyk – Duven Funeral Home.

Pella Chronicle -- Pella, Iowa
July 5, 2012