Jeanne Marie Gardner

Jeanne M. (Henderson) Gardner, 83, of Wakefield, Nebraska died on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at Providence Medical Center in Wayne, Nebraska. A celebration of Jeanne’s life will be held on Friday, September 26, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Wakefield; Pastor Kelly Johnston will be officiating. The visitation will be held on Thursday, September 25, 2014 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the Little Red Hen Theater (located at 316 Main St.) in Wakefield. Inurnment will be in the Wakefield Cemetery. Lunch will follow at the Wakefield American Legion Hall. Bressler – Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home of Wakefield is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Jeanne was born on November 14, 1930 in Emerson, Nebraska, the daughter of Frank and Cora (Heckens) Henderson. She graduated from Emerson High School in 1948 and later graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She was united in marriage to Daniel Gardner on January 23, 1953. Jeanne was the proud mother of Alan, David, Kirk and Leslie. As a young mother she was active as a Cub Scout Den Mother, a 4-H Leader, active in Salem Lutheran Church as a church council member and teaching Sunday school, and a member of the Prairie Hills Girls Scout Board and the Wakefield Health Care Center Board. Later in life she was quite active as a founding member of the Nebraskans for the Arts, President of the Gardner Foundation, Local S.T.A.R.T Chairperson, Producer of the Little Red Hen Theater, Owner and Restorer of Jeanne’s at the Haskell House, Area Physician Recruitment Committee, co-chair of the Wayne State Capital Campaign, Marian Health Care Center Board, Marian Health Care Center Foundation Board, the Sioux City Symphony Board and Foundation, the Sioux City Art Center Board, Wakefield Community Foundation Board and Honorary Board of Directors of the John G. Neihardt Center. Most of all, Jeanne was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will be missed by her family and all who knew her. Jeanne is survived by her sons: David (Rosemary) Gardner of Sheldon, SC and Kirk Gardner of Bellevue, NE and a daughter Leslie (Tim) Bebee of Wakefield, NE. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Adam, Brooke and Jordan Gardner, Ross, Kyle and Carly Gardner, Javanah Jensen, Timarie Hansen and Garek Bebee, and great grandchildren: Jaxon Benscoter, Saul Hansen, Ryker Jensen, Cole Gardner and Baby Hansen due in November. Her brother Sterling Henderson of Norfolk, NE also survives Jeanne. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dan, a son Alan Gardner and two brothers: Harley Henderson and Mort Henderson.