"i had the pleasure of taking care of jack's house in la jolla, ca for 35 years. he was like a dad to me. i'll always remember having jeff's burgers and our long talks. i'll miss you jack. RIP and god bless you."
In loving memory of
John W. II
August 10, 2012
John Willis "Jack" Gardner II, age 95, of 1811 York Lane, died August 5, 2012, at 5:05 am in his home.
Jack was born July 11, 1917 in Quincy, Illinois, the son of Ralph Gifford and Katharine Emery Gardner. He married Betty Wangerien on October 9, 1942 in Seattle Washington. She preceded him in death on June 12, 1993.
Jack was a graduate of the University of Missouri-Rolla. He served as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy during World War II, from August of 1941 to January of 1946. He was employed at Gardner Denver.
Jack was a member of Ducks Unlimited and the Quincy Country Club. He enjoyed duck hunting and was an avid tennis player.
Survivors include his son, John Willis "Jay" Gardner III; a sister, Patricia Cleek of Santa Barbara, CA; seven nieces and nephews, including Dr. Walter Stevenson III and his wife Darlene of Quincy, Carolyn Stevenson of Quincy, Becky Barton and her husband Kelly of Oak Park, CA, and Carol Rush and her husband Doug of South Pasadena, CA; six great nieces and nephews, John G. Stevenson and his wife Dale, of Quincy, Jennifer Stevenson Croke and her husband Steve of Steamboat Springs, CO, Scott Stevenson of Tucson, AZ, Laura Stevenson of Austin, TX, Robert Gardner Rush and Martin Day Rush, both of South Pasadena, CA; numerous great-great nieces and nephews; his longtime caregivers, Don and Diane Sloan of Quincy; and his Brittany, Jilly III.
In addition to his wife, Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother Rebecca Cunningham Gardner, a brother, Joseph Gardner, two sisters, Katherine Stevenson and an infant sister, Marion Gardner, two nephews, Ralph Stevenson and John G. Stevenson, Sr, an aunt, Marion Gardner Jackson, and his Brittany, Jilly II.
Memorial Service: 10:00 am Thursday (August 16, 2012) in the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home with Rev. Patrick Smith officiating.
Inurnment: Woodland Cemetery
Visitation: 9:00 am - 10:00 am, Thursday (August 16, 2012) at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.
Memorials: Quincy Humane Society
www.hansenspear.com
Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of the arrangements.
Tributes
"Our families contact with Jack Gardner began several years ago, just as my father-Richard Collins began his career at Gardner Denver in the engineering department. Jack took a liking to my father and they became good friends. They both had graduated from Rolla and had an interest in hunting. Especially duck hunting! All of our family, even my mother and sister had at one time or another spent time at Jack?s camp better known to us by the name painted on the sign on the front gate to the camp as ?BIG BRITCHES?! It was at this camp that two boys, their father, and Jack developed a lasting friendship and a great appreciation of duck hunting. The opening day before duck season always meant a great meal with Jack, and later in the evening our father and Jack would be sitting around the table sipping a few and talking of old stories past. The camp was like another home to our family. I can recall the many things Jack did with us, from the riding in the amphibious, six wheeled Amphi-Cat that would go just about anywhere, to Jack teaching us sailing in his two man sail boat, target shooting at clay pigeons, fishing in the lake, and the building of a new goose-blind, with Jack right there supervising us along the way. During the months when the ducks were out of season we would mow the grass, plant a garden at the camp for Jack, and make routine repairs around the camp. I also remember Jacks love for his dogs Jane and Jill. They were always with him when he came to the camp. I can still hear Jack calling their names, and they came running into the back of that Buick LeSabre soaking wet, then shaking off inside, what a sight too see! Looking back at a few of the photographs that had been taken with Jack and our family brings back memories of a simpler time. I can still see him rounding the circle drive around the cottage waving goodbye, sometimes he would salute us, as if we were cadets of his, as he left for his home in Quincy. Jack Gardner you will always be remembered as a friend to our family."
"i remeber all the years my father richard collins took his 2 sons 'todd" and "shawn"to jack gardners camp near lock and dam 22,yearly we use to hunt,fish,maintain jacks lawns,garden - property around the camp.we built and maintained the duck blinds-catwalks. we hunted ducks/geese/deer/racoon/trapped on jacks camp. jack mainly hunted waterfowl, his desire was the mallard ducks .our family spent countless hours sitting in jacks blind with his brittany spaniel "jill" or "jane" drinking coffee and chewing the rag with jack and my father calling ducks &geese on his lake "pin-oak" what a experience money cannot buy ,truly sureal .he smoked merit cigarettes he had brown packaged ones and green packaged menthols he always tried smoking the green menthols to get the the green winged mallards to fly in on the lake -he seemed to think it helped on the mallard drake count.my father and us 2 boys mainly hunted lake "broad apron"on the camp property and spent countless hours bonding as family there.i buried my father with his duck call that we used on the camp lakes .because i wanted him to continue calling the ducks,my dad truly enjoyed duck hunting there at the camp,it was the best years i had with my father.jack gardner was a pure delight to experience as a young boy.i will never forget him and the time we spent there having the opportunity to hunt/fish/grow-up spending time at the camp with him and my family was priceless,no one will ever take that way from me!.....rest in peace ...jack gardner......dads calling the ducks for you,jack sit back and have a green merit!"
"Jack was a dear client at our Travel House! I enjoyed flying him and his dog to California - always in the same seat, so he could see the dog being loaded.... I have missed him in the last few years.... Rest in peace, Jack!"
"Jack's friendship and the time I spent with him will always be cherished! What I remember the most was the twinkle in his eyes and his laughter I enjoyed all the stories he told about his life. Jack without fail brought smile to my face. I will dearly miss you, Jack.! Don, I would like to take this time to thank you for bringing Jack into my life, It was a pleasure to work for you and an honor to work with Jack."
"I dont know where to start when I think of Mr. Jack. It was truly an honor to take care of him the past 3 years. He helped me through some rough times in my life and didnt even realize it. I'm going to miss our rides I took him on, reminicing down Maine street, listening to him talk about playing tennis, serving in the navy with Perry Weaver, "the law west of Frisco" he'd say, and his stories about his life with his brother Joe. I will forever be indebted to Don, "Chick" for allowing me the opportunity to care for of one of the most Precious men I have ever meet in my life!!! I love you Jack. As you take a piece of my heart with you, you left behind many memories that I will cherish forever. Rest in peace my dear friend. ACH DE LEBER......"
"Uncle Jack was so dear to us. We will miss him."
"Jack Gardner was a great friend to us over many years. The land that Mr.Gardner called the "Club Lakes " was a very special place to us. We will miss his friendship."