Submitted by: Dan Rich

D. Gene Gardner
Aug. 6, 1930 - Dec. 13, 2002

South Bend Tribune 12/19/2002

D. Gene Gardner, 72, of South Bend, Ind., passed away in his home at 10:35 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, after a courageous battle with cancer. He died peacefully, with his family at his side. He was born on Aug. 6, 1930, in South Bend, but lived most of his earlier and adult years in the town of Roseland. He was the youngest of seven children of James Odells and Ella Allean (Conner) Gardner. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Budd Odell Gardner, Gerald Conner Gardner and Delbert James Gardner; and two sisters, Allean Louise Gardner and Tessibel Elizabeth (Gardner) Fox. He is survived by his brother, Arnold "Red" Gardner and his wife, Margaret E. (Skodinski) Gardner; three daughters, Deborah (Gardner) Zarzyka and Margaret "Meg" (Gardner) Moon, both of Granger, Ind., and Pamela (Gardner) Eddy of Niles; two sons, David Gardner of Brazil, Ind., and Robert Joseph; seven grandchildren, Ashley and Brittany Zarzyka, Nicole and Alexis Gardner, Shane and Matthew Holcomb, and Marshoina Joseph; and two step-grandchildren, Kristie and Bryan Moon.

Gene went to the Clay Township elementary schools of Ullery and Stuckey and graduated from the former Washington-Clay High School in 1948. He then attended Indiana University, from which he received a B.S. degree in 1953 and an M.S. degree in 1958. He served in the United States Army from Sept. 8, 1953, until June 9, 1955. His employment history included a local grocery store before and after his graduation from high school; the former Studebaker Corporation; teaching school for five years, one of which was while he was in the Army; and 33 and ½ years at the St. Joseph County Welfare Department, from which he retired as a supervisor in 1993. In 1981 he wrote the first and only history of the department. His other journalistic efforts included serving as a sportswriter for both his high school and college newspapers, writing a monthly newsletter for many years for the town of Roseland, writing stories for several former county and township newspapers, and after retirement he wrote newsletters for his 1948 high school graduating class. In 1968, Gene was a co-founder of the Roseland Citizens Association and served as president and vice president of that organization. In 1973, and again in 1979, he received the R.C.A. Community Service Award. He also served on a committee to form the Roseland Police Department, and was directly involved in obtaining and clearing the land where Roseland Town Hall was later constructed. He also served on the Roseland Park Board. He was also active in his church, St. Paul's Lutheran, where he served as vice president of the board of directors, as an usher and as a counter.

On Aug. 16, 1958, he married Margaret E. Skodinski at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in South Bend.

He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. The family would like to thank all nurses at Memorial Hospital who cared for Gene during his illness.

Services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Family and friends called from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday in Palmer Funeral Home-River Park, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., and also called one hour before services in the church on Tuesday. The family requests that any memorial contributions be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church or to Hospice of St. Joseph County.