Gary Luke Gardner

Survivors: His brother, Kenneth Gardner, of Drayton, North Dakota, George Zeitler of Minot, North Dakota, Lois Alexander of Porterville, CA., Kay Mack of Drake, North Dakota, and Mary Mygaard of Mason City Iowa. Gary Luke Gardner was a Medical Technologist at Central Washington Hospital for many years. A Celebration of Gary Gardner's Life (In Memoriam) ~ Will be remembered in two memorials. Please join in sharing stories of a kind and wonderful friend, Wednesday, July 18, 2012, from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Cashmere Riverside Center, 201 Riverside Dr., Cashmere, WA. Potluck style, meat and drinks provided. Contact Ed and Mary Zontek 662-9922 or Neil and Ginny Heinitz 669-0450 or 884-6582. Sunday, July 22, 2012, from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at 10 Below (located below Applewood Grill in Wenatchee). Hosted by CWHS Laboratory staff. Contact Lori Goldy at 669-5790 Please express your thoughts and memories on the online guest book at jonesjonesbetts.com. Gary Luke Gardner, age 65, of Cashmere, WA, died Monday, July 2, 2012. He was born November 19, 1946, in New Rockford, ND, to 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 to 1967, majoring in History. After college, he lived in the Seattle area, where he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the Vietnam War from June 1968 to May 1971 in West Germany and South Vietnam. After his discharge, he furthered his education at Minot State College and graduated in May 1976 with a B.S. in Medical Technology. He began his career at Trinity Hospital in Minot and then moved in November 1976 to Glasgow, MT, where he was a Medical Technologist at the F.M. Deaconess Hospital until July 1979. Though he moved about the first part of his young adult life, he settled into the Wenatchee Valley on July 30, 1979, making it his permanent home. He worked as a Medical Technologist at Central Washington Hospital, Wenatchee, WA, and continued there until his retirement on March 14, 2007. He was a reliable employee and made many friends in the lab, as well as the hospital. An enthusiastic outdoorsman, he was active in running, biking, skiing, kayaking and rafting, as well as an amateur photographer. His river days brought him into the wilderness of Idaho, Canada, Montana, and he paddled almost a three week journey on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. He enjoyed downhill and x-country skiing and had trips into Idaho, Oregon and Utah as well with numerous skiing friends. He participated many years in the Ridge to River races and was nicknamed "the Gorilla," for his hard work and tenacious personality. Additionally, he rode in the Seattle to Portland bike race a number of times. In Washington, he had two families: his Lab Family and his River Family. He was well thought of as a quiet, intelligent, kind and reliable friend. 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. The doctor later wrote that "because of Gary's alertness and concern, a baby was saved from dying due to hemolytic disease." It was his attention to detail, his kindness, his compassion for others, his lengthy, detailed storytelling, and his quiet quips with a humorous twist that we will miss. He was loved deeply by his family and friends and touched the hearts of many. Survivors include sisters, Lois Alexander of Porterville, CA, Kay (Allen) Mack of Drake, ND and Mary (Alan) Nygaard of Mason City, IA; and brothers, George (Della) Zeitler of Lake Metigoshe, Bottineau, ND and Kenneth (Carol) Gardner, Jr. of Drayton, ND; as well as numerous nieces and nephews who "loved Uncle Gary." Gary was preceded in death by his parents; and a grand-nephew, Michael Mack. There will be three Memorials celebrating Gary's life: Wednesday, July 18, 2012, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Riverside Center in Cashmere, WA (Contact Ginny Heinitz, 669-0450); Sunday, July 22, 2012, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at "10 below," located below the Applewood Grill (Contact Lori Goldy, 669-5790); and the third Memorial will be held in New Rockford, ND on Saturday, July 28, 2012. If you would like to send your condolences to the family, please send them to Ken and Carol Gardner, 206 Lincoln Ave, Drayton, ND 58225.

Tributes

Gary Luke Gardner

November 19, 1946 - July 2, 2012