Elizabeth "Liz" A. Carder

Elizabeth “Liz” A. Carder, 92, of Albion, Nebraska, passed away on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society in Albion, NE.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, April 27, 2026, St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, NE, with Rev. Matt Gutowski officiating. Burial will follow at St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, NE. Visitation will be from 3:00 -5:00 p.m. Sunday at Levander Funeral Home of Albion, NE.

Liz was born December 24, 1933, in Boone County, Nebraska to Francis and Ethel (Wheeler) VanDeWalle. She graduated from Cedar Rapids High School and attended Wayne State College.

On December 28, 1954, she married Gale Carder, and together they shared 71 years of marriage. They built a life rooted in family, farming, and community in the St. Edward area. Liz taught at Pinnacle Hill, where she made a lasting impact on her students.

An accomplished artist, seamstress, and gardener, Liz was also a natural community leader. In the 1950s, she led the Boone County Rural Youth Group and met Gale after his return from service in the Marines. He asked her to dance at a local dance, and they danced their way into a lifelong partnership.

Liz was deeply involved in her church and community. She was known for her generosity, her willingness to help others, and her quiet leadership. She was a 4-H leader in Boone County for decades teaching everything from birdwatching to photography to embroidery. Liz was also a TeamMates mentor, passing along valuable guidance for her mentees. Her home was a place of welcome, and she had a special gift for making it beautiful—always opening it warmly to family, friends, and neighbors.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who took great pride in her family. She especially enjoyed attending school activities, sporting events, and family celebrations. Liz valued tradition, faith, and the importance of staying connected across generations.

She is survived by her husband, Gale Carder; her children: Carol (Rory) Rowe; Jim (Laurie) Carder; Jerry (Donielle Finnegan) Carder; Kent (Sheila) Carder; Teresa (Doug Walter) Paulsen; and Janine (David) Krohn; her grandchildren: Kyle (Lacy) Carder, Christopher (Angie) Carder, Katie (Greg) Precht, Kristin (Tim Gaydusek) Carder, Andrea (Jeremy) Aylward, Keri Carder, Kevin (Niruktha Gotoor) Carder, Alana (Wes) Beller, Erica (Kolton) Charling, Emily (Kyle) Olson, Elise Paulsen, Danielle Krohn, Celia Paulsen, and Kalen Krohn; and her great-grandchildren: Alex, Nolan, and Brooklyn Carder; Aubrey, Callie, Macy, and Bryn Carder; Eliza and Gemma Precht; Nora, Violet, Lucy, and Jack Aylward; Brecken, Berkleigh and Brooks Beller; Satya and Diya Carder; Callan and Hayden Charling; and Carder Olson.

She is also survived by siblings Martha Janda of Texas; Robert (Judy) VanDeWalle of Albion; Leo (Leona) VanDeWalle of Cedar Rapids; Leonard VanDeWalle of Burwell; Albert VanDeWalle of Albion; and sisters-in-law Virginia (Bill) Teter of Omaha and Jody Gunsolley of Connecticut and brother in-law Clair Carder of St. Edward, along with many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her son, Brian Carder (April 30, 2022); infant son, Francis Neil Carder; her parents, Francis and Ethel (Wheeler) VanDeWalle; her parents-in-law, Neil and Ruth Carder; and her brothers Paul VanDeWalle and Donald VanDeWalle.

Liz will be remembered for her creativity, her generosity, her strong faith, and the steady, compassionate way she lived her life. Her legacy lives on in the family she loved and the community she helped shape.

Memorials are suggested to the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Project. Make checks payable to St. Anthony’s Parish Repairs and mail to St. Michael’s, 524 W. Church St., Albion, NE 68620.

Levander Funeral Home of Albion, NE is in charge of arrangements.