Gary L. Gardner

Gary Luke Gardner, age 65, of Cashmere, Washington, died Monday, July 2, 2012.

He was born November 19, 1946, in City Hospital, New Rockford, North Dakota, the son of Kenneth C. and Kathryn Margaret Luke Gardner. He was a member of the New Rockford Methodist Church and attended New Rockford Central School, graduating on May 26, 1965. While in high school, he worked at Joe’s Super Fair.

He attended Minot State College, 1965-1967, majoring in History. In 1967-1968 he lived in the Seattle area and then enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served from June 1968 to May 1971. He was stationed in West Germany and South Vietnam.

After his discharge he went back to Minot State College and graduated in May 1976 with a B.S. in Medical Technology. From 1975 to 1976 he was a Student Medical Technologist at the Trinity Medical Center School of Medical Technology, Minot, ND, and was granted a diploma in July 1976.

From August to November 1976, he was employed as a Medical Technologist at Trinity Hospital, Minot, ND. In November 1976 he moved to Glasgow, MT, and was a Medical Technologist at the F.M. Deaconess Hospital until July 1979.


On July 30, 1979, he began work as a Medical Technologist at Central Washington Hospital, Wenatchee, WA, and continued there until his retirement on March 14, 2007.


An outdoorsman, he was active in running, biking, skiing, kayaking, and rafting and was an amateur photographer. In Washington he had two families: his Lab Family and his River Family.

Survivors include sisters Lois Alexander, Porterville, CA; Kay (Allen) Mack, Drake, ND; and Mary (Alan) Nygaard, Mason City, IA; and brothers George (Della) Zeitler, Lake Metigoshe, Bottineau, ND; and Kenneth (Carol) Gardner, Jr., Drayton, ND.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents and a grand-nephew Michael Mack.


His life can be summed up in a statement by a doctor at Central Washington Hospital when Gary discovered an anti-c in a blood specimen and quickly reported it to the doctor who later wrote that “because of Gary’s alertness and concern, a baby was saved from dying due to hemolytic disease of the newborn.�


Gary will be remembered for his sense of humor, compassion and kindness. He was loved deeply by his family and friends.

FUNERAL SERVICE: First Congregational Church, New Rockford, ND

DATE AND TIME: July 28, 2012 at 10:30 AM

INTERMENT: Prairie Home Cemetery, New Rockford, ND
 

Posted Condolences:

 

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Name: Loren Stowers

Date: 7/27/2012

Message: Dear Family,

  I would like to send my condolences. It can be extremely difficult to lose a loved one. That is why I wanted to share the hope found in the bible, the hope of the resurrection. Jesus stated at John 5:28,29 "The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will come out."  And at Revelation 21:3,4 it states that there will be a time when "...death will be no more."

These scriptures give us hope for the future as respects to our dead loved ones. Those scriptures have brought comfort to me and I hope it does the same for your family.

With Love,

Loren

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Name: Kathy Grandall

Date: 7/26/12

Message: So Sorry for the loss of your brother! I knew Gary or DOC as we called him at Minot State. I was a nursing student and in one of classes. He would always tease me about skipping out on class on a Friday afternoon to go home to Devils Lake but he always brought me up to speed in the class for fear I would flunk! His presence in the student union everyday gave me encouragement each day to keep plugging away even when school was overwhelming. He would always drink hot water-I never could get over that! His gentle smile and sense of humor was so appreciated during my days at MSC!

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Name: Janet and Neil Boothe

Date: July 18, 2012

Message: Rest in peace now, Gary. We will always remember you as a kind and gentle man and are proud that someone as special as you was our cousin. Our hearts go out to all the Gardner family on such a great loss. May you find peace and comfort in warm memories of such a dear brother and uncle.