Genevieve Marian Gardiner

Genevieve Gardiner, age 98, of Milaca, passed away January 19 at Milaca Elim Home. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Saturday, January 23, 2010 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Milaca with Rev. Jon Olson officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Music will be by the Zion Swedish singers and Bob and Marilyn Anderson. Casketbearers will include Steve Daniels, Jon Daniels, Tim Gardiner, Stacy Bastien, Julia Daniels and Carla Daniels. Interment will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Milaca. Arr. Peterson Johnson Funeral Home in Milaca. Genevieve M. Gardiner was born on January 21, 1911 to John and Ida (Berg) Anderson in Milaca, MN. She attended District 21 Country School in Bogus Brook Township where her family was engaged in farming. Gen was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Milaca. Gen was united in marriage to Elliott “Bud” Gardiner on August 21, 1932 in Milaca. They raised two children and were together for 73 years of marriage. She was an active member and Sunday School teacher at Zion Lutheran Church and lived her whole life in Milaca. Gen worked for Milaca Memorial Hospital from 1943 to 1966. She was a nurse at the hospital for 23 years until it closed. Gen continued to work for Dr. Joe Henry at his clinic in Milaca until 1973 when she retired. After retirement, she spent her summers with her husband in Grand Marais on Lake Superior. Gen was named the 1990 Mille Lacs County outstanding women senior citizen. As a senior citizen she kept busy delivering meals on wheels, sewing quilt tops at home and spending one a day week at Zion Lutheran tying quilts. The quilts were sent to the church’s Relief Association to be used in emergencies. Gen was a member of the Swedish singers at the Zion’s annual Santa Lucia Luncheon. She played in the kitchen band and was a member of the Activity Club at Key Row. Gen loved to cook and continued her Swedish Heritage by making cookies and dishes at Christmas for many friends and relatives. Her hobbies included fishing, camping, reading, bowling, crocheting, embroidering and knitting. She made afghans for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren She is survived by her daughter, Kay (Dale) Daniels of Rice, MN; son, Larry (Kathy) Gardiner of Eden Prairie, MN; five grandchildren, Steve (Julia) Daniels, Jon (Carla) Daniels, Stacy (Todd) Bastien, Chris (Becky) Gardiner and Tim (Rachel) Gardiner; 7 great-grandchildren, Courtney, Heather, Missy, Lexi, Jake, Sam and Max; 3 great- great-grandchildren, Hailey, Cade and Ben; half-sister, Alice (Anderson) Quernemoen of Alexandria; half-brother, Al Anderson of Fergus Falls; also by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bud in 2005; brother, Alden; half-sister Vernice and half-brother Elner.