Beth Gardner

BETH GARDNER MUSCATINE, Iowa - Beth Gardner, 51, formerly of Muscatine and had been a resident of "The Madison" in Fort Madison for the past two years, passed away on Sunday, June 21, 2015, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2015, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Reverend Bruce Martin will officiate. Burial will take place in St. Mary's Cemetery at a later date. As per her wishes, her body has been cremated. Memorials may be made to the University of Iowa Myotonic Dystrophy Research Department in memory of Beth Gardner. Beth was born on April 22, 1964, in Muscatine, the daughter of William and LuJean 'Jean' Lamp Gardner. She graduated from Oskaloosa High School, class of 1982, and attended Muscatine Community College. She married Stacy Small on February 29, 1988, and they later divorced. She was a huge NASCAR fan and cheered on the number 48 car of Jimmy Johnson. She was also a fan of the music group "KISS". Her one true love was Coca-Cola, she enjoyed watching movies with her children, was an avid reader, working cross word puzzles and sudoku, and also enjoyed gardening at...[more]

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r mothers. She truly enjoyed her mother's house on the lake where the family made great memories. When she was able, she enjoyed going for breakfast with her dad and her two children. Her caregivers at The Madison were family to her and brought her a lot of joy. Those left to honor her memory include her son, Brady Small and fiancé, Madeline Carlson, of Muscatine; a daughter, Jessica Gardner of Muscatine; one granddaughter, Karalynn; her mother and step-father, LuJean 'Jean' A. and Philip L. Delzell of Morning Sun; her father and step-mother, William and Bernice Gardner of Nichols; two brothers, Mark W. Gardner and Tammy Zahn of Muscatine, and Troy Gardner and wife, Tamika 'Tami', of Muscatine; two sisters, Teresa Sharar and husband, Tom, of Wapello, and Jeanne Gardner of Muscatine; one niece, Katy Sharar of Morning Sun; two nephews, Kyle and Devon Gardner, of Muscatine; one uncle, John Fox of Muscatine; and one aunt, Susan Lassila of Ames. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Brittney Small on March 30, 1990; and a sister, Catherine Gardner on August 20, 1962.