Janet Gardner

November 23, 2017

Janet Yvonne Gardner was born January 8, 1951, the daughter of Rev. Arnold & Donna (Quam) Melom, in Detroit Lakes. She was baptized in Detroit Lakes and confirmed in Rock Dell in 1951. Janet attended school in Howard Lake and graduated from Byron High School. She continued her schooling at Concordia College where she earned a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Music in 1973. Janet was united in marriage with David Gardner on October 21, 1978, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Montevideo. She was employed with the Montevideo Schools as an Elementary Music Specialist from 1973 until 2006. During that time, she was also a composer of published school musicals and choral pieces and is nationally recognized writer of children’s musicals. She was a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, National Education Association, Minnesota Education Association, Music Educators National Conference, Minnesota Elementary Music Educators, where she served on the board as Composition Chairperson for six years and served on the Minnesota Valley Community Concert Association in Montevideo. She was active at Our Saviors Lutheran Church as an organist for 35+ years, church choir, Ecumenical Contemporary Music Group Director for 20 years and an usher. She received several honors during her years of teaching such as Minnesota Music Educator of the Year in 1995 and was the Annual ASCAP Award Recipient. Her hobbies included tennis and traveling. Janet passed away on Thursday, November 23, 2017, at Luther Haven Nursing Home. She was 66 years of age. She is survived by her husband David, daughter Kimberly (Greg) Laun of Eagan; son Brock (fiancé Alex DeMarais) of Elk River; five grandchildren; brother Kenneth Melom of Minneapolis and several nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother David.