Kathleen Jo Gardiner

Funeral services for Kathleen Gardiner, age 71, of Eden Prairie, formerly of Milaca, will be held Friday, February 16, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Milaca with Rev. Stephen Blenkush officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church. Interment will follow at the Forest Hill Cemetery.

Kathleen Jo Gardiner was born December 23, 1946 in Oakes, North Dakota to Tom and Samantha (Brademeyer) Wiemann. She moved to Milaca, Minnesota with her parents at a young age. Kathy was the youngest of eleven children. She was a member of the Evangelical Free Church in Milaca. Kathy graduated from Milaca High School in 1964. She married Larry Gardiner on March 13, 1965 in Milaca. The couple resided in Bloomington, Minnesota where she worked as a beautician. Kathy later attended Hennepin County Technical School and earned a degree as a Health Unit Coordinator. She then worked for Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis for nine years.

Kathy loved baking and was employed as a baker for the Hopkins School District. Kathy also worked at the Pioneer Village in Shakopee, known as Murphy’s Landing. As an interpreter, she perfected the art of wood stove cooking. Kathy was known for her “made from scratch” baked apple pies. Kathy accepted the Lord as her personal Savior and was a devoted wife and mother. She passed away Sunday, February 11, 2018 at Methodist Hospital in Saint Louis Park.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Larry and poodle dog, Bear, of Eden Prairie; two sons, Christopher (Becky) of Bloomington and Timothy (Jina) of Mahtomedi; sister, Lauretta (Bob) Becker of Cannon Falls; three brothers, Don (Ruth) Wiemann of Green Valley, Arizona, Ken (Mary Jane) Wiemann of Longville, and Bob (Marcie) Wiemann of Rosemount; many nieces, nephews, friends and relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents; four sisters, Janette, Margaret, Beatrice, and Gen; and two brothers, Tom and Bill.