Elaine Ann Gardner, 84, of Ankeny, Iowa, passed away peacefully under Home Hospice Care in Greensburg, IN. Elaine was born September 23, 1938, in Indianapolis, IN to Charles and Stella (Tobias) Caine. She was the middle child of three. She was married on November 21, 1959 to Louis Edward Gardner of Cincinnati, OH. They were married for over 60 years until his death in 2020.
A Catholic Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 3663 66th St, Urbandale, IA, 50322. Burial will be in Highland Memory Gardens, Des Moines, IA following the mass. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 7, 2023 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Ankeny Funeral Home, 1510 West 1st Street, Ankeny, IA 50023. There will be a Rosary held at 6 p.m. after the Visitation and a Scripture Service to follow the Rosary.
Elaine graduated from Good Samaritan Nursing School in Cincinnati with a RN degree. She worked for many years in the hospital setting and home health care. Over the years she went on to earn four more degrees from Creighton University earning her highest degree, a Ph.D. in Nursing Education. She used that degree teaching undergraduate nursing and Masters Classes until she was in her late 70’s. She loved to garden and achieved Master Gardener in an extension program. She and Lou were able to spend the summers in South Dakota at their lake cabin on Lake Poinsett. She passed on her love of nature to her five children by always having a garden (her hobby) and taking family nature hikes. Elaine was an avid runner and yogie. She was an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist for St. Pius X Catholic Church in Urbandale, Iowa, and often served the sick at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. For many years, Lou and Elaine traveled all over the world. Their last international trip was to Budapest and Bosnia to see Our Virgin Lady of Medjugorje.
Elaine will be missed by her children, Mary Beth (Jim) Skinner, Greensburg, Indiana, Nancy (Steve) Michael, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Philip (Judy) Gardner, Adel, Iowa, Michael (Julie) Gardner, Ankeny, Iowa, and Carolyn Gardner, Walnut Grove, California; and her sister, Marcia Scheffer, Grand Junction, CO. Elaine has nine grandchildren, Elizabeth Skinner, Madelyn Skinner Davis (Daniel), Colin Michael, Grace Michael, Brandon (Tiaurra) Gardner, Josh (Spencer) Gardner, Zachary Gardner, Clayton Gardner, and Estelle Gardner. She is preceded in death by her husband, Lou; mother and father; brother, Charles, and grandson, Jacob Gardner.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the Food Bank of Iowa, 705 W. Main St. Ottumwa, IA 52501, 641-682-3403.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AnkenyFuneralHome.com for the Gardner family.
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