Betty Gartner, 100, of Dubuque, passed away June 1, 2023 at Hawkeye Care Center.

A farewell toast visitation will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, June 9, at the Egelhof, Siegert and Casper Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 JFK Road, Dubuque followed by a funeral service at 2 pm.  The Eulogy will be presented by Michael Bagby.  Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery.

She was born on April 27, 1923, to William and Loretta (Traeger) Bronn in Randalia, Iowa.  Betty was united in marriage to George C. Gartner on June 24, 1942 in Washington D.C.  Together they raised four children Merideth, Jeanne, Bruce and Bob.  They were original members of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church. Betty loved to collect cookbooks, listen to Betty Thomas on the radio and writing a plethora of recipes on anything available. She showed her love by cooking for her family, others and the neighborhood children.  Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. Betty’s favorite ritual was watching Lawrence Welk.  She REALLY enjoyed “shopping” (aka) going to casinos where ever her driver could find one.

Betty was the “lunch lady” at St. Joseph’s Grade school for many years.  She was an active member of the Women’s Altar and Rosary Society and the Betty’s Club.

She was a homemaker, however, the families of the Gartner Printing Co. supported the business by spending numerous hours collating, assembling, and various other tasks at home.

To know her was to love her. If you had the privilege of knowing Betty in any capacity then you had the opportunity to witness true beauty, grace, wit and wisdom.  She was able to celebrate her 100th birthday weeks ago with a party of the century surrounded by all her beloved friends and family that wore shirts praising her for 100 years of wisdom, laughter and sass.

She’s the absolute reason for a family that’s just bursting with love and it was never lost on her.  Betty loved cooking and being a home-maker and was incredibly proud to be a mom to her 4 children, grandma to 12 and great grandma to 16.   She marveled how there was “never a dull moment,” and enjoyed hearing about everyone’s busy lives as much as she enjoyed re-telling everyone she could about them.

She met, fell in love, and married George Gartner in a whirlwind romance that was made for the big screen.  She saw him and told her girlfriends without reservation that he was going to take her home that night.  She loosened her skating lace so she’d fall directly in front of him and the rest made for a timeless love story.

They were married for over 50 years and just the mention of his name 32 years after his passing could still light up her entire face.  It was an absolute testament to how deeply she was able to love.  She would always say that she and George never fought and at 100 years young she was still offering the best and most beautiful advice she could. “Never say harsh words because you can’t take them back and always kiss everyone goodnight.”  We ask that anyone that knows her or reads this to please continue her legacy of love by keeping this advice in mind.

She will be dearly missed by those left to treasure her memory. She was an absolute gem…the kind this world was so much better for having known.

Betty is survived by her children, Merideth (Steven) Hirsch of Asbury, IA, Jeanne Mast of Independence, IA , G. Bruce (Bev) Gartner of Iowa City, IA, and Robert “Bob” (Mary) Gartner of S. Elgin, IL; 12 grandchildren: Brian, Matt and Stephanie Hirsch, Jennifer Bowersox, John and Mark Mast, Gretchen Mast Collins, Amber McDonald, Adam and Trey Gartner, Lindsey and Josiah Gartner.  There are also 16 great-grandchildren:  M.J., Avery, Morgan, Lena, Lexi, Izzy, Emmett, Vinny, Trevor, Bode, Piper, Holdyn, Maverick, Maya, Becca, Reese.    She is also survived by a brother, William “Junior” Bronn of Fairbanks, IA; a sister, LaFonda Evers of Stephens City, VA.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son-in-law, Gary Mast, and grandson, Todd Mast.

A Sincere thank you to her close family of friends at Hawkeye and also Hospice of Dubuque.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Hospice of Dubuque.