Obituary of Dennis Gardner

Dennis William Gardner, the son of William D. and Pearl L. (Oakes) Gardner, was born on May 6, 1937 in Aurora County, White Lake, SD. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural White Lake, SD. Dennis spent his youth there attending a country elementary school, graduating from Stickney High School in 1956. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in English, Music, and Psychology at USD Southern Campus at Springfield, SD, in 1960. He also attended Northern State University and Dakota Wesleyan University to further his education. In 1957, he received a one year teaching certificate and began his teaching career in a one room country school for one year. He then returned to USD Southern Campus and received his B.S. degree. In 1960, Dennis taught at Delmount, SD and in 1963 at Mt. Vernon, SD. He moved to Sanborn, IA in the fall of 1966 and taught Junior High Language Arts for thirty-one years, retiring in 1997; after thirty-eight years of teaching. From 1960 – 1966, he enlisted in the Army National Guard, receiving his training in the Court Marshall Department at Third Regiment, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. Dennis passed away at the Sanford Sheldon Medical Center in Sheldon, IA on June 4, 2012 at the age of 75. Dennis was very active in the community of Sanborn. Along with his teaching, he was a Real Estate Salesman for Prins Insurance Agency, worked for Jon’s Photo Gallery as a photographer, and worked at the Sanborn Country Club. He was a member of the Sanborn Library Board of Trustees, the Sanborn Preservation Society, Sanborn Improvement Association, St. Andrew’s Church Memorial Committee, St. Andrew’s Church Historian, and was a member on the building committee for the new library. He directed the St. Andrew’s Church Choir for 28 years and also directed the Sanborn Community Church Choir for many years. He enjoyed golfing, photography, carpentry, and gardening. Dennis had tremendous love and respect for his students, becoming close friends with many of them in his lifetime. Left to cherish his memory are his brother Larry Gardner and his wife, Charlotte, of Alamosa, CO; a nephew, Rick Gardner, of LaMar, CO; a sister-in-law, Sharon Gardner of Grand Junction, CO; a close friend Steve Dvorak, of Audubon, IA; other relatives and many friends. Dennis was preceded in death by his parents and a niece Pam Gardner. In loving memory of Dennis W. Gardner Born ~ May 6, 1937 Died ~ June 4, 2012 Age ~ 75 years 28 days Memorial Service 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 6, 2012 St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church Sanborn, Iowa Clergy ~ Rev. Thomas A. Connors Pianist ~ Cloe Rozeboom Soloist ~ Eric Rozeboom Special Music ~ “On Eagle’s Wings” Soloist ~ Joy Vander Werff Special Music ~ “Spirit Song” Congregational Singing Processional ~ “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” #140 “Because He Lives” #364 Recessional ~ “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” #297 Honorary Pallbearers Eric Rozeboom Jim Norton Steve Lux Todd Heitritter Keith Marra Nate Douma Flower Attendants Margaret Foley ~ Dorothy Van Kley ~ Jan Norton Ushers Rod Rath ~ Jim Morfitt ~ Gaylen Roskens Inurnment Silver Ridge Cemetery Stickney, South Dakota (At a later date) It was Dennis’s wish that memorials in his memory be given to the St. Jude’s Children Hospital, the Pam Gardner Memorial Fund or the Sanborn Public Library.