Martha Jane Gard

Martha Jane (Miller) Gard, 99, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, went to be with her Lord on February 7, 2025, at UnityPoint Hospice. The family will greet friends at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories from 10-11AM on Saturday, February 15, 2025. The service will follow and begin at 11 AM with Rev. Robert Whitmore officiating. Burial will follow the service and will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the Cedar Memorial website under the obituary for Martha Gard; under the video tab starting at 11 AM on Saturday, February 15, 2025. Martha was born April 5, 1925, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Elmer and Dorothy (Campbell) Miller. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in June 1943. She was an inspector on the assembly line at Collins Radio, then in 1945 a secretary in the principal's office at Roosevelt High School. In 1949, she was united in marriage to Richard P. Gard. Over the next 38 years, she was employed as a secretary at San Francisco Naval Shipyard, at Roosevelt Library, and in 1973, as secretary to the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the Cedar Rapids Community Schools, retiring in 1987. At a young age, Martha realized that the "whosoever" in John 3:16 meant her. She accepted Christ as Lord and Savior and faithfully served Him in many areas throughout her lifetime. She faithfully attended New Covenant Bible Church. She was fervent in praying for her family, friends, church, nation as well as many missionaries she knew. She held onto her love of daily playing the piano and her love of Iowa â€" enjoying sports, concerts, day trips, bird watching, and gardening. She is survived by her children, Jeff Gard of Cedar Rapids, and Polly (Robert) Whitmore of Greenville, SC; two grandsons, Dr. Bob (Ruth) Whitmore of Storm Lake, IA, and Joe (Anna) Whitmore of Taylors, SC; seven great-grandchildren: Faith, Lydia, Isaac, and Matthew of Storm Lake, IA; Ellie, Ava, and Parker of Taylors, SC; also nieces and nephew: Margot Hafner, Kristie Smith, Diana Meyer, and Eric Santon. Martha was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister Helen, and brother-in-law Harold Santon. In lieu of flowers, you are encouraged to direct memorial donations to Hidden Treasure Christian School (A Ministry of Special Education), located at 500 West Lee Road, Taylors, SC 29687 or visit their website at www.hiddentreasure.org. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries. Just think of stepping on shore and finding it Heaven! Of touching a hand and finding it God's! Of breathing new air and finding it celestial! Of waking up in Glory and finding it home! From Finally Home, by Don Wyrtzen.