GARDNER, Keith W. (1925-2015)

GARDNER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 10/1/2017 at 16:07:10

Keith Webster Gardner
(August 11, 1925 - March 2, 2015)

Keith Webster Gardner passed away March 2, 2015 at Prairie Vista Village in Altoona. Keith was born August 11,1925, (in Palmyra Township) to loving parents, Elera and Bess Gardner. He grew up on a farm near Carlisle, Ia. His youth was spent helping with the many farm jobs and joining others for activities at the Middle River Friends Church, of which he was a member. Keith volunteered to join the Navy during World War II and he served until the war ended. He then returned home to the farm to help his parents with farming and also began his work at (the then) Armstrong Tire and Rubber Co. Keith was always an advocate for better work conditions and fairer pay for workers; he was a union representative for 40 years and 15 of those years served as secretary and treasurer.
Keith enjoyed fishing with family and friends, watching sports and family times together.
He will be missed by his family; wife, Dorothy, sons, Theodore Gardner, Randy (Robin) Gardner, daughter, Sharon (Stan) Thompson, stepsons Brian (Kelley) Pettijohn, Jeff (Louise) Pettijohn, his sister Nancy (Bob) Snyder, nieces Judi (Mark) Lemon and Lori (Steve) Pope, nephew James (Jacque) Rankin (and from his and Dorothy's families,) seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Keith was preceded in death by his parents and his older sister, Betty.
Services for Keith will be held at Middle River Friends Church near Carlisle, Iowa on Friday, March 6th at 11:oo a.m. A private burial will be held prior to services in the Middle River Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Middle River Friends Church. This memorial is provided by Peterson Funeral Services, 415 School St., Carlisle, Iowa, www.petersonfuneralservices.com