Obituary for
Donald N. Gardner
Donald N. Gardner, 77, of Florence, passed away Monday, March 30, 2015, peacefully in his sleep, at his home on Loon Lake.
He was born April 16, 1937, in Milwaukee, Wis., son of the late Norbert and Marie (Weickenand) Gardner.
Don grew up in Greendale, Wis., graduating from Pius High School, Class of 1955 and from St. Norbert College in 1960. He worked with his dad at Hall Construction Co. in Hales Corners, Wis. from 1960 to 1973, then joined Hooper Corporation in Madison, Wis. While at Hooper he served many rolls including President and Director, retiring in 2000. Don served as a Florence County (Wis.) Board member Supervisor since 2008.
Keyes Lake and Loon Lake was heaven on earth for Don and his entire family especially during his retirement years. He had a great zeal to improve the community, now and for future generations.
Don and Theresa enjoyed traveling and were blessed to be able to take every grandchild on a trip to Europe. Don and Theresa also very much enjoyed spending time with his business partner and close friend Mike Baker and his wife Linda.
He was deeply loved and will be missed by all who knew him, whether as a husband, father, grandfather, leader, coworker, or friend.
Don’s strong and unwavering faith was evident to all. His relationship with the Lord grew stronger in the last years and he treasured his personal devotional time.
He is survived by his wife, Theresa (Searight) Gardner; four children, Carla (Mark) Kramer, Iron Mountain, Susan (Brian) Bond, Buffalo, Wyo., David (Diane) Gardner, Neenah, Wis. and John (Desiree) Gardner, Germantown, Wis.; three step-children, Denise Searight, Oshkosh, Wis., Layton (Judy) Searight, Cross Plains, Wis. and Vicki (Chris) Valenzuela, Warrensburg, Mo.; one brother, Jerry Gardner, Calif., fifteen grandchildren , Nicole (Nick Alexander), Adelyn, Joshua, Aaron, Pam, Terri (Sebastian Brandlhuber), Sam (fiancée Ashley), Matthew, Calvin, Karl, Danielle, Shadia, Nathan, Nichole and Jeremiah and two great-grandchildren, Leah and Harris.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Francis Morke; one grandson, Zachary Kramer and one step-son, Tom Searight.
Visitation will be held Monday, April 6, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, Florence. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, 11:00 a.m. at the church. Rev. Fr. Matt Settle will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Commonwealth, Wis.
Don’s grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
Memorials can be made to St. Mary Catholic Church, P.O. Box 166, Florence, WI 54121 in his memory.
The family has chosen the Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home, Florence to honor Don’s Legacy of Life.
You may light a candle in remembrance of Don or leave a condolence for his family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com
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