VINTON:  Leona M. Gardner, age 89, passed on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at Virginia Gay Annex following an extended illness.
      Funeral Services will be held 10:30 AM, Saturday, August 5, 2006 at the Presbyterian Church in Vinton with Rev. Lisa Ross Thedens officiating.  Interment will be held at the Garrison Cemetery in Garrison.  Friends may call at Phillips Family Center, 605 2nd Ave, from 4 to 8 PM on Friday. 
     Leona was born September 24, 1916 in Vinton to Ivar and Amy (Swanson) Skoog  and graduated from the Vinton High School in 1932 and later attended the American Institute of Business in Des Moines.  She was employed as a professional Legal Secretary prior to her marriage. On June 4, 1938 she married Roman Gardner at Vinton.  Leona was active in the operation of their farm near Garrison, and she and Roman won many local, regional and national honors and awards for their farming methods.  Roman preceded her in death on December 29, 1985.
     Leona was a member of the Presbyterian Church where she served as a Deacon, was a faithful choir member and was often an invited soloist.  She was a Past Worthy Matron of the Easter Star, and was a member of the Rainbow Girls.  For a number of years she served as a 4-H Leader and as a Fair Judge at the State level.  Leona enjoyed membership in the Stitch and Chatter Club, and was a fifty-year member of Minor Chord.       
      Leona is survived by her children, Maurice Gardner and wife, Pat of Garrison, and Bruce A. Gardner of Vinton, and Gretchen Gardner of San Diego, CA; her grandchildren, Scott (Sue) Gardner of Garrison, Robb (Stephanie) Gardner of Mt. Pleasant, and Ryan (Carmen) Gardner of Marion; eight grandchildren; her sister, Katherine Vermedahl of Vinton; and her niece, Rhonda Skoog of Cedar Rapids.
     In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, Leland Skoog; her sister-in-law, Etta Skoog and her nephew, Garith Skoog.