Deborah L. Gardner

Deborah Gardner ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Nishna Valley Funeral & Cremation Service - Sidney on Mar. 8, 2026.SERVICE INFORMATION:Deborah Lynne (Aistrope) Gardner, 77, of Hamburg, Iowa, entered into eternal rest on Friday, March 6, 2026, at UNMC Nebraska Medicine - Omaha. A celebration of life graveside funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Mt. Olive Cemetery, rural Hamburg, Iowa, with Pastor Courtney Dake officiating. The family will greet relatives and friends with visitation on Tuesday evening, March 10, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Hamburg First United Methodist Church (1200 Park St, Hamburg, IA 51640). Memorials in Deb's name are being directed to the Hamburg First United Methodist Church or to the George C. Grape Hospital Foundation. Nishna Valley Funeral and Cremation Service in Sidney is caring for the family.OBITUARY:Deborah Lynne (Aistrope) Gardner entered into eternal life on Friday, March 6th 2026 at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, NE. Deborah was born October 18, 1948 at George C. Grape Community Hospital in Hamburg, IA. She was the daughter of Danley Dean and Rena Lois (Liess) Aistrope. Debbie and her siblings, Deanna and Tom, grew up on her family's farm east of Hamburg. She began her school years at Hendricks School outside of Hamburg and later graduated from Hamburg High School with the Class of 1967. She attended Stewart's School of Cosmetology in Council Bluffs.Debbie was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart Charles Paul Gardner at the United Methodist Church in Hamburg, Iowa on February 1, 1969. Charles and Debbie built their life in Hamburg. They recently celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary. Her husband, Charles, says that anyone who knew her loved her. Uncle Chuck and Aunt Debbie cherished spending time with their families and enjoyed watching their nieces and nephews grow up over the years. They welcomed their (long-awaited) daughter, Megan, in 1991.Debbie began work with Carl Brown at Carl's Beauty Shoppe shortly after finishing cosmetology school. She took pleasure in getting to know her customers and considered manyof them life-long friends. She later worked at George C. Grape Community hospital in varying roles until her retirement in 2021. She greatly enjoyed her working years and is fondly remembered by many friends and co-workers that have missed seeing her on a daily basis.Debbie was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Hamburg. She spent many years teaching Sunday School and served as the church treasurer. She could often befound serving desserts or washing dishes after church dinners. Debbie spent her free time reading novels or working on crossword puzzles. She also enjoyed watching hummingbirdsduring the spring and summer.Following her retirement Debbie planned to spend her days with her first grandson, Glen. She adored her grandsons more than words can say. Both Glen and Dean loved to spend time at "Mama's and Papa's" and their visits never failed to brighten Debbie's days.Preceding Debbie in death were her parents Dean and Lois Aistrope, brother-in-law George Clark, and her father and mother-in-law Harold and Madeline Gardner. Debbie is survived by her loving husband Charles, their daughter Megan (Zach) Benefiel of Nebraska City and her grandsons Glen and Dean Benefiel. She is also survived by her sister Deanna Clark of Hamburg, brother Tom (Sharon) Aistrope of Shenandoah, brother-in-law Martin Gardner of Hamburg and numerous nieces and nephews. She leaves behind many friends to honor her memory.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.