LeRoy Edward Gardner

LeRoy Edward Gardner, age 84, passed away peacefully at his farm in Pine City on Sunday, January 9, 2022.

LeRoy was born March 20, 1937.  He lived in the Pine City area most of his life.  At a very young age he went to work in the potato fields and then worked at the local feed mill until he joined the U.S. Air Force at 17 yrs old. Upon leaving the Air Force, he met Phyllis Marie Gilbey and married on June 25, 1960. They made their first home in Fridley and had three children, Richard, Renee and Ron.  In 1965, they purchased Phyllis’ mothers farm in Pine City, where they lived the rest of their lives. 

LeRoy worked many years as a cement finisher while he hobby farmed pigs, chickens and beef cattle. Later he gave up cement finishing for full time dairy farming, which he did up until his retirement. While retired, he went back to hobby farming and then took up cabinet making with his son, Richard, which he did up to his passing. He often joked that dairy farming was easier than retirement. Besides work, LeRoy also enjoyed gardening, playing cards and spending time with his family, especially the grandchildren.

His humor, kindness and generosity will be remembered by everyone he met. Whether it was lending a hand, giving advice, or borrowing out anything he had, he was happy to do so. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.

He leaves us with a heavy heart and will be missed dearly by many family members and friends.

LeRoy is survived by his children Richard (Denise Williams), Renee Allen (Tom Torgerson) and Ron (Susan) all of Pine City; grandchildren Jamie Allen (Matt Torgerson), Valerie Allen (Mike Mozingo), Justine Torgerson, Travis (Chelsey) Gardner, Ashley Gardner (Ryan Michael), Courtney (Jesse) Bagley, Amy (Derek) Bestick,  Nathan Gardner (Christina Ramsey); 8 great-grandchildren; brothers Laurence (Pat), Lloyd, Dale (Janice), Michael (Kathie), David (Sherre), Brian and Terry; sisters SharonLee Krueger, Leona (Gary) Okerstrom, Roxanne (Joel) White; many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lester and Rose (Shermer) Gardner; step-mother: Bernice (Shermer) Gardner; wife Phyllis; grandson Ryan Gardner; brothers Leonard, Leon, Bert; sisters-in-law Loraine Gardner, Dawn Gardner, Sharon Gardner; brother-in-law Hugo Krueger.

A Celebration of Life for LeRoy will be held at 12 PM Noon; Saturday, March 19, 2022 at Open Arms Church of God in Grasston Minnesota (406 Pine St, Grasston MN 55030); a time of visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.  Immediately following the service, military honors for LeRoy will be provided by the Heath Perkins American Legion Post #51, Novak-Milliren VFW Post #4258 and the Minnesota Army National Guard. 

Memorial donations in LeRoy's memory may be directed to: Czech National Cemetery of Pine City-% Ron Gardner at 57236 Hickory Lane, Pine City, MN.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to: Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City, Swanson Chapel
www.FuneralAndCremationService.com