Dorothy A. Gardner, age 88, formerly of Aniwa, passed away on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at the Aspirus Hospice House, Wausau, surrounded by her family.

She was born on November 18, 1930 in Aniwa, daughter of the late James and Violet (Hitt) Verpoorten. On July 23, 1949, she was united in marriage to Percy Gardner in Aniwa. He preceded her in death on November 9, 2014.

Dorothy was a homemaker and enjoyed needlepoint, baking, playing cards, listening to country and polka music, and spending time with her family.

Survivors include her four children, Sidney Gardner, Randy Gardner, and Sherri Dean, all of Wausau, and Tammy (Anil) Zinser-Minocha of Madison;12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and two sisters-in-law, Loretta Verpoorten of San Angelo, TX, and Gale Verpoorten of Hamburg.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was further preceded in death by her son, Barry Gardner, daughter, Patricia Noggle, four brothers,Lawrence, Delmore, Ralph and Orville, and her sister, Helen Stone.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, January 13, 2019, at Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home, Birnamwood. Rev. Joy Nelson-Jeffers will officiate. Burial will be at the Hogarty-Riverside Cemetery in the spring. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM until the time of service on Sunday at the funeral home.