Wilber Gard

Wilber Gard, 84, of Atlantic passed away Sunday morning February 18, 2001, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital.He was born May 19, 1916, to Wesley and Ella Osborne Gard in Sargeant, Nebraska. He attended school in Walnut and Anita as a youth. Wilber served in the U.S. Army as a T5 Sergeant, special trained tank driver for the company commander under General patent. He participated in the D-Day invasion at Normandy Beach, serving in World War II a total of 4 years, 8 months and 21 days. He was wounded in action in Belgium and returned United States for a lengthy recovery at the Wakeman Hospital Center at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. He was discharged on October 5, 1946. Wilbur was awarded the Good Conduct Ribbon, the European Theater Ribbon, and the Purple Heart. He married Leona Carr on February 14, 1953. They lived in Omaha, Nebraska where he worked for the Board of Education as an industrial engineer for 30 years. He retired in 1981, and retired on the family farm near Atlantic.Wilbur is survived by his wife Leona; son and daughter-in-law Clinton and Patty Gard of Omaha; grandchildren Shayna and Brett; sister Laura Sturzenegger of Onawa, Iowa; and brothers Orval of Atlantic, and Lyle of Ogden, Iowa.Wilbur was preceded in death by his parents, Wesley and Ella; one brother and three sisters.Roland Funeral Service -- Atlantic, IowaFuneral InformationServices for Wilbur were held Wednesday, February 21, 2001, at 2:00 PM at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic, Iowa with Reverend George Nagel of the Church of God of Prophecy of Kansas City, Missouri officiating.Interment was in the Atlantic Cemetery at Atlantic, Iowa.