Submitted by: Dan Rich
Oct. 9, 1917 - April 15, 1998
South Bend Tribune 4/17/1998
Lillian V. Gard, 80, of Wenger Street, Mishawaka, Ind., died following a lengthy illness at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, in her residence. Mrs. Gard retired as manager of the beauty department at the former Goldblatts Store, and also retired from Uniroyal, both in Mishawaka. She owned The Rib Bar on South Michigan Street in South Bend, Ind. Mrs. Gard was born on Oct. 9, 1917, in Crown Point, Ind., to William I. and Myrtle (Lamphier) VanKirk, and lived most of her life in the South Bend-Mishawaka area.
On Dec. 22, 1933, in Mishawaka, as Lillian VanKirk, she married Donald C. Gard, Sr., who preceded her in death on Sept. 20, 1984. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Sandra A. ''Butch'' Onderdonk in 1974; a son, Richard ''Dick'' Earl Gard in 1991; and by a sister, Viola DeVos. She is survived by three daughters, Joyce ''Shorty'' Dozier of Odessa, Fla., Dona Lynn Hall of Mishawaka and Karrie Kae Clayton of South Bend; a son, Donald C. Gard, Jr., of Paylo, Kan.; and by 24 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Gard was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in South Bend, Chapter 598 Order of Eastern Star of Osceola, Ind., Moose Lodge of Elkhart, Ind., Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2083, Mishawaka, Avalon Grotto, American Cosmetologist Association, Bowlers Country Club, Jeeper Jet Set of Uniroyal where she was a past president, and was a member of the Gamma Kappa Chapter of the Sigma Alpha Sorority for over 50 years.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday in the Welsheimer Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, with Rev. William Beyer of Bethany Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will follow in Sumption Prairie Cemetery, South Bend. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home where an Eastern Star memorial service will be held at 7 p.m., followed by a service by the Sigma Alpha Sorority.