Bertha Agnes Gander

Born Bertha Agnes Williams in Kansas City, Missouri on March 14, 1928; the fourth child of Thomas and Leona Mae Williams.

She passed Wednesday, February 15, 2017 in Council Bluffs.

She married Maynard Lee Gander on May 29th, 1947 of which 4 children were born from their union. She lived the majority of her married life in Manley, NE, where she was a homemaker, avid gardner and crafter while her children grew. When the youngest reached high school, Bertha became a CNA and later CMA for the Louisville Care Center. After she retired, Bertha and her husband moved to Elizabeth, CO where Bertha became involved with the Warm Hearts Warm Babies Organization making quilts for pre-mature babies born at the Parker Hospital. They then decided to return to the Midwest and moved to Shenandoah IA where they have spent the last 9 years. Bertha continued to crochet and make lap quilts up until the time she became ill.

Bertha is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Williams and Leona Mae Brown; 3 brothers, Eugene Williams, Pete Williams, Thomas Williams, Jr.; step-mother, Crela Williams; step sister, Ethel May Gander; and one granddaughter, Ruth Leone Becker.

She is survived by her husband of 69 years and 10 months, Maynard Lee Gander; 4 daughters, Edie Bearden (John) of Farmington, NH, Karen Gander of Englewood, CO, Pat Hoskins (Chuck) of Edgewood, NM, and Peg Becker of Council Bluffs, IA; 4 granddaughters, Kim Bearden, Leanna Pereira, Sarah Kejick, Ashley Clark; one grandson, Justin Manley; 6 great grandchildren; 5 great great grandchildren with two more on the way.

Family visitation will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, February 18, 2017, followed by a Memorial service at 2:00 pm with refreshments being offered after the service at the Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home in Council Bluffs, IA. Family will direct memorials.
Bertha is to be cremated and will be interred with her husband after his passing.