Viola Gardner

Funeral Services for Viola G. "Vi" Gardner will be conducted at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska on Monday, February 10, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Brian Steinbach officiating. Interment will follow in the Maple Grove Cemetery at Bloomington, Nebraska.

Viola Grace Gardner, 92 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Viola was born March 4, 1921 on the family farm southwest of Bloomington, Nebraska, the daughter of Charles D. and Rose (Zulauf) Gardner. She attended Bloomington Public Schools, graduating with the class of 1939. She then pursued higher education, attending Kearney State Teachers College where she studied elementary education. She taught for two years in a little red, one room school, south of Franklin, followed by two years in another rural school south of Riverton. While teaching south of Riverton, a wonderful change took place in her life. She became a born-again Christian and a month later she received the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues at the Riverton Assembly of God Church.

She then taught for one more year at Bloomington High School. The following year, she attended Bible School at Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. After graduation in 1945, she joined their staff. In December of 1951, she returned home to care for her ailing mother and after her passing in 1953, Viola remained with her father and re-entered into the educational field. She taught for 19 years in numerous schools in Franklin County until she moved to Bertrand, Nebraska. During her years at Bertrand, she pursued her Masters Degree, which she attained in the summer of 1976. She continued teaching for 19 years in the Bertrand Community Schools until her retirement in 1986. In 2012 she began to make her home at the Christian Homes Care Community at Holdrege.

Following her retirement, she taught different Bible Studies and Adult Sunday School classes at North Park Assembly of God Church in Holdrege. Serving Christ in these areas brought her much joy and contentment.

Vi was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers: Paul Gardner and his wife, Hazel, Charles "Pete" Gardner and his wife, Cornelia, Raymond Gardner and his wife, Thelma, Glen Gardner and his wife, Darolene and Lindy Gardner and his wife, Dorothy; one sister, Evelyn Hrabak and her husband, Edwin.

She leaves to mourn her passing a host of nieces, nephews; grand nieces and nephews; great-grand nieces and nephews; cousins, and friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Vi's honor and kindly suggested to the North Park Assembly of God Church in Holdrege.

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.