Pauline Frances Gartzke

Pauline Frances Gartzke

Iowa City

Pauline Frances Gartzke, 95, lifelong resident of Iowa City passed away at home surrounded by her loving family on Feb. 22, 2023.

Funeral services will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, 605 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City, with visitation prior to the service from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Private family burial will be at Oakland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to her family to be distributed to organizations that were important to her.

Pauline was born Nov. 4, 1927, in rural Johnson County, the daughter of Perry and Esther (Schaffer) Murphy. She attended St. Patrick High School in Iowa City. On May 12, 1947, Pauline was united in marriage to Robert “Bob” Gartzke in Iowa City. The couple raised their three children in Iowa City and enjoyed more than 60 loving years of marriage before his death in 2007. Pauline worked as a machine operator for Oral B Laboratories in Iowa City for 24-years, retiring in 1990.

In her early years, she was a Girl Scout leader. Pauline was a devoted member of the Iowa City American Legion Auxiliary Post #17 for more than 70 years. She enjoyed playing cards (especially euchre), camping, decorating her home for the holidays, watching the Iowa Hawkeyes, crocheting, and attending her grandchildren’s activities. Being a grandmother and eventually becoming a great-grandmother meant everything to her.

Pauline was fiercely independent and was grateful to be able to live at her home, where she lived for more than 70 years up until her death.

She is survived by her three daughters, Anita Skriver of Iowa City, Paula Griffin (Bruce Gardner) of West Branch and Frances (Tom) Goldsmith of Washington; one brother, Earle (Louise) Murphy of Iowa City; six grandchildren, Lisa Skriver, Ryan (Tanya) Skriver, James (Shaina) Rich, David Rich, Bobby Griffin and Megan Goldsmith; and seven great-grandchildren, Misty, Matthew, Laura, Charlotte, Emma, Austin and Aiden.

Pauline was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister, Lucile Kinney; and son-in-law, Gene Skriver.

Online condolences and memories of Pauline can be shared with her family at www.lensingfuneral.com.