Phyllis V. Gardner

Mass of Christian Burial for Phyllis V. Gardner will be conducted from the All Saints Catholic Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. with Father Thomas Lux, officiating. Rosary will be held prior to the Mass at 10:00 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in the Kearney Cemetery at Kearney, Nebraska at 1:45 p.m.

Phyllis Verna Gardner, 64 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Saturday, April 7, 2007 at the Holdrege Memorial Homes. Phyllis was born October 19, 1942 in Beemer, Nebraska, the second of three children of Fred and Verna (Spinden) Haines. She grew up and received her primary education at Norfolk, Nebraska. Phyllis then pursued higher education at the CNTC School of Nursing at Kearney, where she received her LPN degree.

On September 5, 1959 she was united in marriage to William D. "Bill" Gardner of Norfolk and to this union two children were born: Kelli Jo and William Scott. The family made their home in Kearney, where they were part owners in Monarch Construction. Phyllis was employed by the St. Luke's Home in Kearney as Head Nurse and later as an Industrial Nurse for Rockwell International. Throughout the years, Phyllis continued her education, receiving her BS in Safety and Education from Kearney State College and later receiving her Masters Degree in Business Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 1994. She held several jobs as a Director or Manager of Human Resource Departments. Phyllis worked as Manager of Safety and Environmental for Becton Dickinson in Holdrege, Director of Human Resources for Exmark Mfg. in Beatrice, Nebraska, Director of Human Resources and Environmental for the City of Scottsbluff, Nebraska and later retiring as Director of Human Resources for EGS in Columbus, Nebraska. Following her retirement, Phyllis returned to Scottsbluff.

She loved volunteering through the United Way, serving on school boards in Beatrice and enjoyed her church involvement. Phyllis was faithful practicing her religion. She will be missed by many. Her hobbies were golf, knitting, sewing, painting and just hanging with the grand kids and her dog, Auggie. Phyllis and her two grandchildren formed the GGC Club (Grandma Goo Club). They had shirts alike and ice cream meetings. She loved them dearly. It was evident by her many family involvements that she was a person with great family ties.

She leaves to mourn her passing her son, Scott Gardner and his wife, Laura of Holdrege; two grandchildren: Maggie and Nick Gardner of Holdrege; two brothers: Allen Haines of Mesa, Arizona and Neligh, Nebraska and Leonard Haines and his wife, Diane of Fremont, Nebraska and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She is also survived by her special friend, Jack Fries of Scottsbluff. It seemed like he was always there when she needed him. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kelli Jo on January 5, 1983; husband, Bill on March 31, 1995; and her parents.

Phyllis will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Monday, April 9, 2007 from 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

A memorial has been established in her memory.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.