Vidalia,

Robert “Bob” Gardner, Sr., age 75, of Vidalia, died Saturday, October 8, 2016 at his home surrounded by his family, after a brief illness. He was born in Bena, Minnesota and grew up in Minnesota. In 1957, he enlisted the U.S. Army, was stationed in Germany and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. He then went back to Germany, served in Iran from 1974-1976 and retired from Ft. Hood, Texas in 1978 after twenty years as a CW3. He worked at Blandin Paper Company in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, retired again after twenty-three years and has lived in Toombs County since 2012. He was a lifelong member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans and the Fifth Infantry Division. He was a Boy Scout Leader for many years in Deer River, Minnesota and was a proud Catholic. He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Walter Gardner and Inez Stangel Gardner; two sisters, Marilyn Luko and Patricia Schanen; and three brothers, Kenneth Gardner, Lindy “Toby” Gardner and Douglas Gardner.

Robert is survived by his wife of 39 years, Anne Gardner of Vidalia; ten children, Raymond Gardner of Hazlehurst, Victoria Wright and husband Kenneth of Basin, Wyoming, Heidi Richards of Vidalia, James Gardner of Vidalia, Patricia Olds and husband Jon of Vidalia, Bobbi Gardner of Deer River, Minnesota, Thomas Gardner and wife Stacie of Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, Eva Alamo of Vidalia, Denis Gardner of Deer River, Minnesota and Robert Gardner, Jr. of Arizona; fourteen grandchildren; two sisters, Lois Fritz of Sartell, Minnesota and Gloria Root of Minnesota and several nieces and nephews, including a special niece Cec.

There will be a Rosary on Thursday, October 13th at 6:00 p.m. in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, October 14th at 11:00 a.m. in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Glennville.

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