March
8, 1961 - May 29, 2009SOUTH BEND - Our beloved son, husband, father and keeper of the faith, was born March 8, 1961 in South Bend, IN, the third child of Eugene E. and Edith (LaCosse) Gardner. He was special from the very first, inquisitive, thoughtful and sensitive to the needs of others. He was also mischievous and a risk taker. His teenage years were trying to say the least. Lewis grew up in South Bend where he attended Marshall grade school and Riley High School. He graduated high school while in the army at White Sands, New Mexico. In February 2000, he graduated from IUSB with a degree in Criminal Justice and was most recently employed at Madison Center's New Passages as an addiction counselor. He cared for his clients. It was important to him that he was able to help them on their way to recovery. He grieved when they failed. Lewis was an avid Cubs fan and golfer. On June 17, 1978, Lew and Beth Ann Moffett were joined in marriage at Southlawn Methodist Church, South Bend. Beth has been a cherish family member for almost thirty-one years. Fourteen years ago, Lewis almost lost his life to Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Beth was with him night and day and we believe, shared equally with his doctors in his recovery. Along with Beth, he is survived by their five sons, Joseph, Andrew, Samuel (fiancé, Nicole Nash), Benjamin and Riley; his mother, Edith M. Gardner and brother, Chris Gardner, all of South Bend, IN. He is also survived by Beth's parents, Nancy and Bob Moffett of South Bend, sisters in law, Jennifer (Keith) Bruntz of South Bend, IN and Lisa (Floyd) Sexton of Niles, MI, also brother in law, Robert Moffett of South Bend, and a very special grandson, Mason Sheley. He was preceded in death by his father in 2008 and brother, Jon in 2002. There are no words to describe our sorrow. Dear Lewis, may God keep you safe until we meet again. Funeral services were held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 4,2009 in the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan St., South Bend, with Jim Ellrod of Clay Church officiating. The family received friends from 4:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family request that contributions me made to New Passages, 813 South Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46601.