Donald L. Gardner

Donald Leo Gardner, age 77, of Reedsburg, WI, passed away on Monday, April 22, 2019 at the Reedsburg Area Senior Life Center. He was born on July 23, 1941 in Reedsburg, WI, the son of Lyle and Helen (Clark) Gardner. Don was a 1960 graduate of Webb High School. On May 27, 1978 he was united in marriage to Karen Marie McCormick Murkve at the McFarland Lutheran Church. Don proudly served his country in the U.S. Army in Korea during the Vietnam War. Donald was employed at Grede Foundries, then Badger Ordnance for nine years and later went back to work at the Foundry until he retired on August 3, 2003. He was a lifetime member of the Reedsburg American Legion Post #350. Don was also a volunteer firefighter at the LaValle Fire Department from 1967 to 1973. He and Karen owned and operated KarDon’s Kennels, a poodle breeding kennel from 1978 to 2008 raising hundreds of poodles throughout that time. He enjoyed gardening, cards and dice. Don was a member of various churches throughout his life, but most recently the United Methodist Church in LaValle.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Karen Marie on May 11, 2012; and his brothers, Marvin and LeRoy Gardner.

He is survived by his children, Jeffrey (Wendy) Murkve of Madison and their children: Alexander Murkve (Krista Thomson), Caitlin (Brandon) Jolivette, Ian Murkve (Delfina Florencio-Morales), Dianne Johnson of Reedsburg and her children: Ryan Molitor, Timothy Johnson (Samantha McClellan), and Mark Murkve; great-granddaughter, Ashlynn Johnson; brother, Duane (Ruth) Gardner of Fitchburg; sister-in-law, Jan Gardner of Portage; many nieces and nephews, along with other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Donald Gardner will be conducted at 12:00 noon on Friday, April 26, 2019, at the Farber Funeral Home in Reedsburg with Chaplain Daniel Farber officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Lawn Cemetery in LaValle with military rites accorded at the grave. Visitation will be held on Friday from 11:00 A.M. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials of remembrance may be made to American Legion Post #350 of Reedsburg or the Sauk County Humane Society.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald L. Gardner, please visit our floral store.