Howard Gardner, 64, of Marysville, formerly of Waterloo, New York, died Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 12, 2017, at his home with his loving family and longtime friend by his side, after a brief battle with an aggressive cancer.
He worked for Borden ReaLemon in Waterloo, New York, for many years before moving to Ohio, where he retired as a machinist from Nestle PTC. He was an “Einstein” of mechanics who had a God-given talent to fabricate or fix almost anything. He tinkered day and night with his extensive collection of pocket watches, clocks, old-time radios, antique cars, scratch build hit-and-miss engines, model trains, radio-controlled planes and, more recently, drones. He appreciated his animals and loved his family.
He was born on March 5, 1953, in Geneva, New York, to the late Harold and Dorothy Phillips Gardner.
He is survived by his wife of 22 years, the former Christina D. “Chris” Wilck, whom he married on June 27, 1995, in Lyons, New York, at her family’s home; daughter, Mikaela Sara Gardner of Marysville; step-son, Jeremy Wilck of Columbus; half-brothers, Harold Shoemaker of Clifton Springs, New York, and Lynn (Ginger) Shoemaker of Geneva, New York; and numerous nieces, nephews and dear friends.
Keith Lewis will officiate a Celebration of Life service at 2 p.m. Saturday at New Life Family Center, 654 Raymond Rd., in Marysville. Burial will take place at a later date in Phelps, New York. Ingram Funeral Home is assisting the family.
In his memory, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to New Life Family Center (www.newlifemarysville.org) or to the Union County Cancer Society (www.unioncountycancersociety.org).
Condolences may be expressed at www.ingramfuneralservice.com.