Dixie Lea Gardiner

DIXIE LEA GARDINER

North Liberty

Dixie Lea Gardiner, 58, of North Liberty, died suddenly at her home Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018.

Funeral services will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, December 7, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church in North Liberty, where there will be a time of visitation from 3 p.m. until the services on Friday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Dixie's memory. To share a thought, memory or condolence with her family please visit the funeral home website at www.gayandciha.com.

Dixie Lea Wiese was born Aug. 26, 1960, in Clinton, Iowa, the daughter of Harry and Bonnie (Boyar) Wiese. Growing up in Charlotte, Iowa, she graduated from North East High School in Goose Lake, Iowa. She married Robert H. Gardiner on Sept. 22, 1995, at the First United Methodist Church in North Liberty, where she and Rob have continued their membership to this day. She has worked as an optometrist at Walmart Vision Center in Coralville, a career that spanned more than 15 years.

Dixie enjoyed many things in her life; of course, her family was the most important, but she and Rob also were foster parents to 32 children, and block parents to many more throughout the years. She enjoyed fishing, camping, collecting antiques and "other collectibles," made sure everyone and their brother always was fed, and on multiple occasions enjoyed the role of the "matchmaker" (with limited success!).

Her family includes her husband, Rob; her father, Harry Wiese; children, Lindsey Eakes (Clinton), Jennifer Albright (Shawn), Lindsey Martinson (Michael), Ashley Richards and Kyle Gardiner (Sarah); six grandchildren, Callie, Ivan, Victoria, Madelyn, Mackenzie and Faith; and Dixie's brother, Wes Wiese (Tatiana).

Dixie was preceded in death by her mother; and a brother, Wade.