Mildred Jean (Kroener) Gardner joined the bass section of the heavenly choir on Monday, July 4, 2016.

Millie was born in Edgerton, Wis., on May 12, 1924, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Terlinden) Kroener. She graduated from Stoughton High School, earned a B.A. degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and was the first woman to serve as concertmaster of the Luther College Concert Band.

Millie taught band and chorus in the public schools in Blooming Prairie, Minn., then in Wellman, Iowa (where she met her husband, Francis Gardner). Frank and Millie were united in marriage on April 18, 1957, in Wellman. Following the birth of their daughter, Beth, they moved to Stoughton, where Millie was a band director at the middle and high school level for nearly 30 years.

After "retiring," Millie continued to direct the Stoughton City Band until macular degeneration forced her to step down from the podium at the age of 83. She sang in the Stoughton Festival Choir and her church choir until her eyesight failed. Millie was a lifelong member of Christ Lutheran Church and was active in Paws Awhile Teddy Bear Club and the Friendly Paws Den of Good Bears of the World. She enjoyed attending concerts and the theatre, watching figure skating, collecting teddy bears, and sampling chocolate.

Millie is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Gardner '81; two sisters-in-law, Myrtle Gardner and Connie Gardner; and 13 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Francis Gardner; and half-brother, Mahlon Kroener.

Funeral services were held July 9, 2016, at CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH, 700 County Road B, Stoughton, Wis., with Pastor Scott Geister-Jones presiding. Visitation was at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 206 W. Prospect St., Stoughton, on July 8, 2016. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at Lutheran South Cemetery.

Donations will be used to establish a memorial scholarship at Stoughton High School.

Please share your memories at www.CressFuneralService.com.