The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-12-09

rene, untroubled and full of peace. it
seemed that he might respond to a
spoken word, whispered caress or
a~gentle touch of the hand, SO lighlly
had the Aand of death been laid upon
his brow.
lnterment was in the Leon ceme-
terry near the plot where lies his faith
er and mother and the dearly below
ed daughter Louise who preceded
him five years ago.
Will Gardner was an exceptional
man in many ways. Quiet, cool and
always self possessed, he pursued his
even way in life, taking his joys and
sorrows as they came. TO meet him
was to find new friend. No night
was too dark, no storm too severe,
no hardship too great that he would
not overcome it to respond to the
call of distress. His quiet exterior,
his few words, were but masks that
hid the great heart which beat in
sympathy with sorrow and suffering
wherever found, and concealed his
own personal disappointments and
crumbled hopes. Had it been within
the bounds Of human possibility for
him to have shOuldered all the
troubles in the world he would have
bowed his head to the mighty load
with uncomplaining smiles. To his
family he was deeply attached. The
death of Louise, the oldest daughter,
five years ago, was to him an almost
overwhelming sorrow, but he put
aside his personal grief in order that
others dependent upon him might
have more comfort and consolation.
IL +, s,,I +,
and an affectionate, indulgent faith
er. To his sons and daughters he
was an elder brother and a pal to
whom they could all take their big
and little troubles with full assurance
that dad" would make it right
someway. He was innocent of guile
and being young of heart remained
young in form and feature so that
stranger seeing him in company with
his sons and, daughters might have
taken him for the big brother of the
family.
His life was a succession of sacri-
fices for those he loved and the only
reward he hoped for was that he
might be permitted long enough life
and sufficient accumulation to leave
them comfortable.
He had never become member of
any church but possessed deep and
respectful reverence for things religi-
Gus. A firm believer in the promises
|of the Lowly Nazarene, he lived and
died by the Golden Rule, and who
shall say that in the final summing
up he shall not be first among those
who are called to sit at the right
hand of the Master
Peace to his ashes.
William A. Gardner, son of John
Nv and Mary M. Gardner, was born
,scn the home farm near Leon, Iowa,
August IL, 1862, and departed this
life December 4, 1915, aged SO years,
4 months and % days.
On January 81, 1889, he was mar
ried at Humes ton, Iowa, to Miss Ora
Pitman, and to this union were born
six children, five of whom with their
mother survive him. In early man
hood the deceased was a clerk for
and later partner with his brother,
Frank Gardner, in the grocery busi-
ness in this city. Later he farmed
the Gardner home place for several
years, returning to town in 1908 and
again taking; up mercantile life.
In November, 1912, he was elect
ed recorder of Decatur county and
was serving his second term at the
time of his death.
Besides the sorrowing wife and
children, he leaves one sister, Mrs.
Anna Curry, of this city, one brother,
George o. Gardner, of Humeston, a
little granddaughter, Mia, to whom
he was devotedly attached, and a
large number of other relatives and
friends who sincerely mourn his pass
ing.