LINA MARIE GARDINER's Obituary
LINA MARIE GARDINER Our dearest Lina passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly, on the morning of February 17th, at 10:05 AM, with her husband by her side. She was 83 years old.Lina was born in the town of Altenhauslau, Kinzeg County, Hessen State, Germany on June 17, 1934. She was the oldest of 5 children born to Maria (Zellmann) and Heinrich Weingartner, who preceded her in death. Lina was raised in Gelnhausen, Hessen, where she went through her school years, a large part of it being during the Second World War. All these war years formed her into the person that she was, and was the reason why she abhorred violence of any kind. She was Baptized at birth and confirmed into the Lutheran Faith on March 18, 1948. She met and married Scott, her husband of 60 years and together they raised three daughters: Christa Pittsenbargar, Barbara Berry, and Devota Kocian; four grandchildren: Brian Pittsenbargar, Blake Kocian, Joey Berry, and Makenzie Kocian; and three great-grandchildren: Lydia, Dylan, and Audrey, all of whom she loved and adored. They were the joys of her life and she was extremely proud of them all. She also is survived by three sisters, Suse Shroyer, Ursala Canter, Karen Hickey, and brother, Günther Weingartner. She also has numerous cousins still in Germany. Lina enjoyed going to her Bible Study Group, visiting twice a week with her exercise group at Mickey Ds (McDonald’s) over coffee, enjoying her “German Kaffeeklatsch” every month, meeting with her neighborhood book club, and sitting with her neighbors on Friday evenings in the summertime. She loved her neighbors and friends and they always returned the love many times over. She was very active in her churches: first Christ Lutheran Church and then Zion Lutheran Church from 2011 until her passing. Lina always kept her faith and she knew it would always guide and rule her life. In lieu of flowers, donations in memorial may be made to Zion Lutheran Church Boldly Building Program or the American Heart Association.
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