Mary Ann Gard, age 75, of Early, passed away Saturday, August 30, 2008 at Methodist Manor after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer.  She entered into eternal rest surrounded by her husband and children.

A Funeral Mass is to be celebrated by Father Larry Burns at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 2, 2008, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Early.  Burial will be at the Sacred Heart Cemetery immediately following the service.  Arrangements are under the direction of Farber and Otteman Funeral Home in Sac City.

Mary Ann Scharfenkamp was born March 6, 1933, at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Carroll, Iowa, to William J. and Dorothy A. (Simons) Scharfenkamp.  She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith and attended St. Peters and Paul grade school.  She went to St. Angela Girls Academy in Carroll for high school and graduated in 1951.  Her nurturing and caring disposition led her to enter St. Anthony’s School of Nursing where Mary Ann received her degree in 1954 as a registered nurse.  After graduation she worked in the surgery department at St. Anthony’s Hospital and then as an office nurse at the Carroll Medical Center for Dr. Josef Martin, an orthopedic specialist.

On April 22, 1957, Mary Ann was united in marriage to William Gard at Holy Family Catholic Church in Lidderdale, Iowa.  They began their married life together on a farm a couple of miles northwest of Early and lived there until moving to town in 1999.  The couple was blessed with five children, Diane (Wilson), Donna (Carleton), Michael, David and Kate (Ware).  She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Her family was first and foremost throughout her life but she was always there to lend a helping hand to friends and neighbors.  During her married life Mary Ann worked as a nurse at various times.  When her children were young, she worked part-time at Loring Hospital in Sac City and then as the school nurse at Sacred Heart.  In 1993, with her children raised, Mary Ann returned to nursing this time caring for residents at Methodist Manor and Otsego Place.  She retired in 2004.

Mary Ann was an active member of Sacred Heart Church and she served as Guild President, Eucharistic Minister, and took Communion to the home bound.  Mary Ann always enjoyed attending her children’s school and sporting events.  As her children were growing, she often played games with them and she continued this later in life with her grandchildren.  One of her favorite pastimes was to play cards, especially bridge, and she participated in many bridge tournaments.  Mary Ann also enjoyed having coffee with neighbors and friends.

Those who will greatly miss her and cherish her memory include husband Bill, children: Diane (Mark) Wilson of Nevada, IA; Donna (Glenn) Carleton of Apple Valley, MN; Michael (Julee) of Aurora, IL; David of Early; and Kate (Chad) Ware of Walker, IA; 11 grandchildren: Erin and Nicole Wilson; Colin, Connor and Gavin Carleton; Anna, Andrew, and Caroline Gard; and Emma, Ellie, and Elise Ware; sisters: Janet (Dick) Davis of Jefferson and Jean (Joe) Berger of Webster City, IA; brothers: John (Karen) Scharfenkamp of Carroll, IA and Roy (Carol) Scharfenkamp of Baudette, MN; 2 aunts: Louise Friedman of Raleigh, NC and Kathryn Simons of Coon Rapids, IA; along with many extended family members and friends.

Mary Ann has passed from this life and gone home to be with our Lord and in doing so joined her parents: William and Dorothy; brother and sister-in-law: Bob and Mary Jane Scharfenkamp; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Albert and Kathryn Gard; brother-in-law: Frank Nielsen; three nephews and a niece.