Irene Carol Thomsen Gardiner 1925 - 2019

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Irene Carol Thomsen Gardiner, age 93, passed away April 8, 2019 at Sunrise of Sandy, 2130 E 9400 S, Sandy, UT 84093. A funeral service will be held April 13 at 12:30 pm with a visitation at 11:30 am (closed casket). The casket will be opened after the family prayer. The location of the service is 1535 E. Creek Rd, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84093. Food will be served by the ward, for the family, after the burial. The burial will be at 4900 S Memory Ln, Holladay, UT 84117

Carol was born December 18, 1925 to Clyde and Irene (Clarkson) Thomsen in Salt Lake City and was the oldest of four children. Growing up Carol lived in Utah, Oregon and California. She attended Brigham Young University and served a 2-year mission in the Southwest Mission in Texas, Spanish speaking, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her areas were El Paso for six months, Houston for 14 months and Santa Fe for four months. She said that her “mission was a great pleasure in all respects.” After her mission Carol went to San Jose State in California and received a BA in Occupational Therapy and worked as an Occupational Therapist for one year. In 1961 she met and married James H. Gardiner. After raising her family in Glendale, California, she moved back to Salt Lake in 2014.

Carol’s life was based on her testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ with family at its center. Her brother, Blaine introduced her to James Gardiner, who was a widower with seven young children and with their marriage she took on the challenging role of raising and loving seven stepchildren. In 1963, she gave birth to James Thomsen Gardiner to make it an even eight. She loved her husband and loved raising their children together in the gospel. She served in the church in many callings and especially enjoyed being secretary for different organizations because she got to know everyone that way. She talked to everyone and made friends easily. She was known for her quick wit and her positive and appreciative nature. She was a great cook who made delicious homemade wheat bread. Her love and care for her husband and children was always a top priority for her.

Carol is survived by brother Blaine Thomsen; eight children: Kent, Sandra, Mark, Janice, Gayle, Jeffrey, Julie, and JT; 35 grandchildren; 69 great grandchildren with two on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her loving husband James Hulet Gardiner, sisters Gayle (Thomsen) Blackmer, and Jeanne (Thomsen) Hanks.