Ray Eugene Gardner

Heaven gained a farmer today. Ray Eugene Gardner, age 83, of Albia, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at the Monroe Care Center in Albia. Ray was born on March 12, 1940, at home on the family farm in Monroe County, to Walter Sr. and Mildred (Stewart) Gardner. He grew up attending Pleasant Point country school, a one room schoolhouse, until school buses were put in place, when he came to Albia to school and graduated from the Albia High School with the class of 1958. On December 29, 1958, he married Carol Mullinix in Albia and to this union, 3 children, Tim, Maggie, and Annie were born. Ray and Carol later divorced. On March 1, 1991, he joined Patricia Hoelzel and they spent 32 loving years together. In his younger years, Ray enjoyed playing softball and participating in 4-H. He worked at the Albia Sale Barn where he often rode horses to move cattle in and out of the showring. He enjoyed being outdoors, deer hunting, and gardening. He was a talented bowler and golfer. Ray was a lifelong farmer, raising Angus cattle and row cropping., as well as sheering many sheep. He received many awards for farming over the years and won the yield contest in Monroe County multiple times. He and Pat owned a home in Florida where they enjoyed wintering and also loved traveling and taking cruises to places including Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Vallarta, and Las Vegas. Ray loved to socialize with neighbors and friends and loved to play 4-point pitch. Above all else, he loved his family and cherished all of the time he spent with them, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ray is survived by Pat Hoelzel; his children, Tim (Jody) Gardner, Maggie Popson, and Annie Gardner; 5 grandchildren, Sarah (Kris) Popson, Katie (Chris) Adams, Emily (Travis) Patton, Kyle (Katie) Popson, and Elizabeth (Slater) Poe; 12 great grandchildren, Sophia, Emery, Clay, Cal, Ross, Kole, Gabriella, Logun, Bella, Nova, Thatcher, and Rocky; and a sister, Dalene Bateman. Ray is also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Mildred; 2 brothers, Clyde and Junior Gardner; a nephew, Leslie Bateman Sr.; and his dogs, Zipper and Scout. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 3, 2023, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Ray’s family present to greet family and friends. A Time of Remembrance will be held at 6:00 p.m. with Pastor Brad Gray officiating. Per Ray’s wishes, his body will be cremated following services and a private family burial will be held at a later date. Memorials have been established to Monroe County 4-H and Lake Miami Park.

Ray Eugene Gardner

March 12, 1940 - October 29, 2023