Thomas H. Gardner, age 87, of Isanti passed away November 4, 2007 at Cambridge Health Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, November 8th at First Bapist Church in St. Francis with Pastor James Snow officiating. A visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday and also from 4-8 P.M. on Wednesday, November 7th at Strike Funeral Home – Isanti Chapel. Interment will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Tom was born on September 27, 1920 in Valley City, North Dakota to Wayne & Marie Gardner. He was raised in Minneapolis and graduated from Dunwoody institute. He also attended Northwestern College in St. Paul and Moody Bible institute in Chicago. He served in the Army Calvary branch in WW II. On May 24, 1947 he was united in marriage to Virginia Ann Kilbury and they made their home in Minneapolis. In 1965 they bought a farm in Athens Township in Isanti County Minnesota. He lived there until his death. To this union was born four children: Rebecca Ann, Daniel Thomas, Thomas Paul & Barbara Marie.
Tom worked as a diesel mechanic for 40 years, 25 of them for GMC truck center. Tom and his family were charter members of Bunker Lake Bible Baptist church when it was formed and attended there for 20 years. After he retired from GMC he became a member of First Baptist Church of St. Francis and faithfully attended there while his health permitted. He loved serving the Lord in many areas. Tom also enjoyed spending time with all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his father and mother-in-law, his sisters, Joyce Simmons & Alice Gardner, brothers, Bob and Mark Gardner, brother-in-law Bob Kilbury, great-grandson Grant Hoffman.
Tom is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Virginia, his children: Becky (Lowell) Kruse of Owatonna, Dan (Terri) Gardner of Okinawa Japan, Tom (Patty) Gardner of Fort Collins, Co., Barb (Russ) Peterson of Isanti; 13 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law; Beverly Kilbury & Sallie Gardner, many nieces and nephews as well as many friends.