Milan "Mike" Dean Garder

Milan "Mike" D. Garder, 86, of Albion, NE, passed away at the Boone County Health Center in Albion, NE.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 6, 2022 at Immanuel-Zion (South Branch) Church rural Albion, NE with Vicar Elizabeth Goehring officiating. Interment will be at North Branch (East) Cemetery. Visitation will be 3:00-5:00 p.m Sunday at Levander Funeral Home in Albion, NE.

Milan Dean Garder, son of Herman and Ida (Lee) Garder, was born on October 2, 1935 at Norfolk, NE. Mike was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church (North Branch) in rural Boone County. He attended school at District #33 and graduated from Albion High School in 1953. Following his graduation he began to farm.

Mike was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1958 and served honorably until 1960. When he returned from his military service Mike resumed farming with his brother and family. Over the years Mike raised corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and cattle. He also helped neighbors and others with harvest.

On February 17, 1973, Mike was united in marriage to Gaye Stone at Looking Glass Methodist Church in rural Newman Grove, NE. They made their home on the farm, rural Petersburg, and moved into Albion in the spring of 2009.

Mike was a member of Zion North Branch Church from his birth until it merged with what is now Immanuel-Zion (South Branch) Church and continued his membership there until his passing. He was a very active member through the years, holding multiple church council positions, chairing the building committee, as well as being on the cemetery committee. Mike loved to travel with Gaye and their friends in the over 55 group. He also enjoyed bowling, playing cards, and attending farm auctions. Mike was an avid reader and had his own personal library, a huge collection of books of all sorts. Mike was also very close with his nieces and nephews and was known as being the "fun uncle".

Mike is survived by his wife Gaye Garder of Albion, NE; sister-in-law: Babette Garder of Newman Grove, NE; brother-in-law Kenneth (Joan) Stone of Lindsay, NE; nieces and nephews: Kenn (Shari) Garder of Omaha, NE; Scott (Chele) Garder of Blair, NE; Karen (Dennis) Bidne of Blair, NE; Steve (Michel) Garder of Hadar, NE; Brian (Jennifer) Stone of Elkhorn, NE; Kristine (Jeff) Herzberg of Lincoln, NE; Traci (Albert) Rodriguez of Upland, CA; Sara Stone of Lindsay, NE; as well as great-nieces; great-nephews; cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Norman Garder; Harlan Garder; and sister-in-law Darlene Stone.