Services Monday for Ex-City Clerk

Funeral services will be Monday for Gwen Wiesner, a longtime city clerk once described as the “First Lady of Garden Grove,” who died Tuesday at the age of 79.

Wiesner was hired as Garden Grove’s third municipal employee in 1956, as secretary to the city administrator. Within months she became Garden Grove’s first full-time city clerk, a position she held for 12 years. She later was city treasurer, and worked as an assistant city manager and director of administrative services. She retired in October 1981.

During the city’s 40th anniversary celebration two years ago, Wiesner was recognized by former Mayor Kay Barr for her many years of service.

“She has enriched the image of the city and the lives of each of us privileged to know her,” she said.

Said recently retired City Clerk Carolyn Morris, who worked for Wiesner for many years: “Everything that went out to the public had to be perfect. She was a great lady.”

Wiesner joined the city after serving as a WAVE in the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was a native of Deleon, Texas, and moved to Garden Grove in 1953, then a town of 42,000 residents, when she married her husband, Bud.

She had spent much of her retirement traveling in a recreational vehicle.

In addition to her husband of 46 years, Wiesner is survived by two sisters, Lucille Furnish of Santa Ana and Mrs. E.W. Matthews of Midland, Texas; and a brother, Walter B. Smith of Irving, Texas.

Services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 11832 Euclid St., in Garden Grove.