Miles Hunter Gardner Obituary (1923 - 2013)

Miles H. Gardner, 90, of Sun City, Arizona and formerly of Hazleton, Iowa passed away peacefully at Hospice of the Valley on Friday, October 18, 2013 in Sun City. Memorial Service: 10 A.M. Friday, June 27, 2014 at Floral Hills Funeral Home, rural Oelwein, with Rev. Dr. Scott Meador officiating. The family will greet relatives and friends at the Floral Hills Funeral Home for one hour before the service. Military Graveside Rites by the Oelwein American Legion Ross Reid Post #9. Inurnment: Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, rural Oelwein, Iowa. Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com Miles Hunter Gardner was born on May 7, 1923 in Audubon County, Iowa the son of W. Miles & Carrie (Hunter) Gardner. In 1936, he moved with his family to a farm in Northeast Iowa near Hazleton. He graduated from Hazleton High School in 1940 and attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette. Miles joined the United States Marine Corps in 1945 and was honorably discharged in 1946. Then, he returned to assume responsibilities of the family farm at Hazleton. Miles was united in marriage to Sally Marie Sickels on December 14, 1947 at the Methodist Church in Independence, Iowa. Miles and Sally made their home on the Gardner farm in rural Hazleton where they raised three children: Ruth, Miles Jr. and Mary. Miles was an active member of his community. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, American Legion #642, Waterfall Masonic Lodge #511 and the Hazleton Fire Fighters. He served six years on the Hazleton School Board and six years on the Oelwein School Board. In his leisure time, Miles was an avid golfer. He also enjoyed fishing with his farming partner, Duane Morey. They took their families fishing in Minnesota each summer for many years. In 1976, Miles and Sally began spending winter months in Sun City and became members of First United Methodist Church in Sun City. In 2010, they became residents of Arizona year round. Miles is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sally Gardner of Sun City, Arizona; 3 Children: Ruth Graf (Darrell Hackbarth) of Mason City, Miles Jr. (Barbara) Gardner of Surprise, Arizona & Mary Gardner (Melanie Hausmaninger) of Longmont, Colorado; 1 Granddaughter: Brittany Gardner of Surprise, Arizona; 2 Sisters: Beth Brown of Independence & Marily Stephenson of Alexandria, Virginia. Miles was preceded in death by his parents and 2 sisters: Olive McCannon and Ruth Shermerhorn.