Vern Peter Gardner's Obituary
Vern Peter Gardner passed away at the age of 91 on May 19, 2016. Vern was born in Stephenson, MI, on August 4, 1924 and was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Delma (Hood) Gardner, and his seven siblings: Gladys, Dorothy, Ruth, Ethel, Karol, Iris, and Roger. He leaves his devoted wife Jennie Ruth (Evans), to whom he was married 69 years, three children, Cheryl Gardner, Michele Kane (Robert), Vern Peter Gardner II (Spring); five grandchildren, Rebecca Martens, Stephanie Halley (Nick), Simone Gardner-Musta (Kirby), Ross Gardner, and Eric Gardner; eight great grandchildren, Manning, Henry, Jude, Arleen, Robert, Kirby, Gaige, and Chayton; several nieces and a nephew, and his special niece Debbie Pasiewicz.
Vern was a WWII Veteran, one of the Greatest Generation. 1942-1946 he served in the United States Navy, where he was an Air Corps navigator in Patrol Bombing Squadron 99 and Air Transport Squadron 11 in the South Pacific.
Vern raised his family in Waukegan, IL where he lived for 69 years. As a General Contractor he built and remodeled multiple homes and commercial buildings in the Waukegan area and throughout Lake County including commercial buildings along the 2800 and 2900 block of Sunset Avenue. At one time he owned a car wash, laundromat and gas station on Sunset and his buddies at the Nip n Sip Tap used to call him the "mayor of Sunset."
He was an avid fisherman and hunter, traveling throughout the United States including Alaska, Canada, and the Arctic Circle to pursue his passion. At any given time his freezer was full of venison, antelope, pheasant, duck, moose, elk and multiple fish. He enjoyed trap-shooting and earned the Top Gun award at the Dew Drop Gun Club more than once. He was especially proud of the rotisserie he built for the club picnics using the mechanism from bombay doors he scavenged at Great Lakes Naval Base. The beef roasts always turned out perfect.
SCUBA diving was another of his passions, exploring many shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. He enjoyed ice diving on the smaller inland lakes as well. He worked with the Lake County Sheriff’s department to form its first underwater recovery team in 1965. He donated many of his artifacts to the Lockwood Pioneer Scuba Diving Museum in Loves Park, IL where they are exhibited.
Vern was a great supporter of the Shriners and proud of the work they do for children. Vern sponsored many a bowling team at Bertrand's, and enjoyed taking his wife on Caribbean Cruises.
The last five months of his life were spent in Tucson, AZ, where his wife, daughter Michele, caretakers at Via Elegante Assisted Living, and Casa de la Luz Hospice lovingly cared for him. Services will be private.
What’s your fondest memory of Vern?
What’s a lesson you learned from Vern?
Share a story where Vern's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Vern you’ll never forget.
How did Vern make you smile?