George Gardner's Obituary
George W. Gardner, 78, of Rural, died suddenly on Friday November 16, 2007. Born on the cusp of the Great Depression, on October 22, 1929 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, George’s life was a challenge, but an adventure. He was the second son of John A. Gardner and Irene F. (Mailloux) Gardner. George’s parents purchased a Door County dairy farm when he was 12. George maintained the farm, as his older brother enlisted and served in World War II and his father worked in the Navy shipyards. George first met Rose when he was 12, when his oldest brother Bob was dating Rose’s sister, and Bob’s future wife, Adeline. He received his high school diploma in 1948 from Gibraltar High School in Door County, and enlisted in the Navy the following year. George proposed to Rose while on a 30-day leave, and they were married on April 7, 1951. George was a disabled veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam War eras. Following an older brother, George enlisted in the US Navy in 1949. He completed basic training at Great Lakes and initial training at NAS Memphis for the Aviation Electronics Technician Radio & Navigation Equipment rating. First assigned to FASRON 8 at Moffett Field, California, he then was selected to be a member of a newly formed squadron – making him a “Plank Owner” – of VC-7. This squadron flew a unique aircraft with a unique mission; the AJ-1 North American Savage was the first and only Navy aircraft specifically designed to carry a nuclear bomb from the deck of an aircraft carrier. Duty with VC-7 included a remote tour in Port Lyautey, French Morocco, where George participated in flying missions on several aircraft carriers as they passed through the Mediterranean. The Naval Air Special Weapons Facility at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, New Mexico was his next assignment, where he supported the development of future weapons for naval aircraft. George served a Pacific tour on the USS Salisbury Sound (AV-13). Hoping to spend more time with his rapidly expanding family, George switched services from the Navy to the US Air Force in 1957. Uncertain if he was wearing his new Air Force uniform correctly, George reported for duty at Chanute AFB with the 1853rd Airways and Air Communications Service Flight - yet another high-tech, special-duty unit. In 1960, the Air Force sent him to the much-envied assignment of Kindley AFB on the island of Bermuda, where he served in the 55th Air Rescue Squadron. After 4 years, he returned to Chanute AFB where the Air Force made use of his extensive experience in electronics by assigning him as an instructor in the service’s technical training program. He earned the designation “Key Instructor” in 1966, while assigned to the 3363 Instructor Squadron. Over his career George worked on numerous aircraft including the PBM-5S, P2V, R5D, HH19, HH43, and the AJ-1. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal with bronze device and the Air Force Commendation Medal. George’s character was reflected in the following Air Force performance evaluation: “SSgt Gardner exceeds any other person I have ever known in ability, loyalty, industry and skill. Even more important is the fact that he also excels, above all others in productivity. SSgt Gardner is not just about an outstanding airman, he is ‘the’ outstanding airman. He has an uncanny ability to substitute and improvise when necessary, works well under pressure and has the knack of doing the right thing at the right time.” George retired from the military as a Technical Sergeant in April 1969. George then worked at the Interscience Research Institute in Champaign, Illinois, as the Senior Ultrasound Technologist. George moved with the Fortune Fry Research Lab to Indianapolis, Indiana, when the lab became part of the Indianapolis Center for Advanced Research. He was an integral part of a research team which was awarded patents in the field of ultrasound visualization research. He retired in 1978. He was then convinced to take on the position of parish maintenance director at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Indianapolis, until retiring in 1984. George’s hard work and determination, and volunteer work resulted in great improvements to the physical plant of the school, allowing them to continue to educate children today. While raising a family of eight, George helped Rose with providing love and care to 23 newborn foster babies. He volunteered with the American Legion at the Wisconsin Veterans’ Home. Over the years he donated more than his share of blood, and as a father and grandfather, changed his fair share of diapers. Unable to stay still for long, he built a successful business, Maintenance By George, performing home maintenance tasks for hundreds of families and elderly in the neighborhood. George continued to provide this vital service to his customer-friends until he retired and moved with Rose to Rural, Wisconsin in 1992. Here, he built a unique log home south of Waupaca – it is a masterpiece of George’s handiwork, trimmed throughout with hardwood that he harvested from his woods. George was limited only by the number of minutes in a day – there wasn’t anything that he couldn’t learn and master, once he had his mind set on it. He completed a course in refrigeration in 1971, which he then used to invent a new heat recovery system for more efficient home heating, dubbed the “THERM.” He joined the Red Cross with Rose in 1996 during the Weyauwega train derailment and stayed on for 10 years. During that time, he served with Rose as a volunteer, traveling to North Dakota, Iowa, Milwaukee, South Carolina, Florida, and Arecibo, Puerto Rico, assisting victims of natural disasters. George’s accomplishments are too numerous to mention. He was passionate about conservation, recycling, technology, veterans’ rights, wildlife, woodworking, treasure hunting, inventing, finding a better way to do things, and loved making friends. A man of insatiable curiosity, he wanted to figure out how things worked and then felt it important to explain it all to others. George was the kind of man that just could not be slowed down, could not be told that something was too difficult to accomplish, and was always available when one of his friends needed something. Constantly tinkering and experimenting in his shop and on the dining room table, he was an expert in projects ranging from alternative energy and electronics to gardening and wine making. George is survived by his bride of 56-1/2 years, Rose Anna, and eight children: Joseph W. (Kathy) Gardner, Paris, Michigan; Mary K. Gardner, Chicago, Illinois; Michael G. (Debbie) Gardner, Savoy, Illinois; Jeanne C. (David Miller) Gardner, Monument, Colorado; Monica R. (Clinton) Gates, Waupaca; James G. Gardner, Atlanta, Georgia; John R. (Susan) Gardner, Boynton Beach, Florida; Matthew R. (Rhonda) Gardner, Indianapolis, Indiana, and three sisters: Margaret Stich, Sturgeon Bay; Mary Ann Kersten, Appleton, and Frances Harmon, LeRoy, New York. He is further survived by 21 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by 3 brothers: Robert, Leo, and John. He will sorely be missed by his family and friends. Visitation/Service
Visitation is at 2:30 with services at 3:30 on Friday, November 23 at A. J. Holly & Sons Funeral Home in Waupaca. Father Brian Belongia from St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church will be presiding. In lieu of sending flowers, the family asks that you please make a donation to the Waupaca Chapter of the Red Cross or the Humane Society of Waupaca County in George’s memory.
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