Emma Gardunia

Emma Guardunia, 81 of Mountain Home. On Saturday, December 28, 2019 our mother and father’s wife, Emma Schaefer Gardunia, left us to be with our Lord, at 81 years old. Mom was born in Sielmingen, Germany in 1938. She was the 9th of 10 children born to Gottlob and Emma Hertler Schaefer. Mom grew up in the throes of conflict; she was born just prior to the beginning of the Second World War and turned just 7 years old at its conclusion. Mom grew up in a traditional German home in post war Germany with her seven sisters and two brothers; she lost her dad when she was 13 years old. Mom and dad met in 1958 when he was stationed in Germany while in the Army and, as fate would have it, this was a blind date through the girlfriend of an army pal. From the moment they met, mom and dad spent as much time as they could together until mom left her life behind in Germany to marry dad in America. Mom and dad raised four children in a military household, moving through multiple states until getting back to Germany after thirteen years to introduce her new family to her previous one. Dad’s dream was to retire in his home state of Idaho and mom happily agreed, making Mountain Home their last military stop. Mom worked for 20 years at the Base Exchange on Mountain Home Air Force Base, the friendliest face at the jewelry counter. Mom also dreamed of becoming an American Citizen and accomplished that in 2010. Mom and dad loved to travel together, visiting their children, grandchildren, cruising, and snow birding with dad’s sister and brother-in-law. Mom had a passion for the casino and video poker, winning far more than losing because she was just plain lucky. We love you mom, you made us who we are and we are eternally grateful for the wonderful life, values, and uncompromising ethics you gave to each one of us. Mom was preceded in death by her dad, Gottlob, her mom Emma, her brothers, Heinz and Horst, and her sisters, Ella, Alise, Klara, and Elisabeth. She is survived by her husband Clinton, her children Andreas (Ute) Schaefer, Wesley Gardunia, Theresa (Scott) Gardunia Stanger, Patricia Gardunia, and Craig (Merri) Gardunia, her sisters Lotte Hertler, Friedl (Gearhart) Auwaerter and Ruth (Gotthold) Mack, her grandchildren, and many nieces, and nephews.

A committal service was held on January 3, 2020 at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, Boise, Idaho at 10:45 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to either the Alzheimer’s Association or your local Hospice care services.

Arrangements under the care of Rost Funeral Home McMurtrey Chapel