John W. Gardiner

John W. Gardiner Of Novato, CA, 92, died April 1, 2015 after a brief illness. Best known for his kind and friendly ways, John was loved by his family, liked by his friends and old golf buddies, and adored by his caregivers. He was born in Minneapolis, MN, to Russell and Katherine Gardiner. John played football for University of Minnesota, before enlisting in the Army. He was in the 547th Squadron, the 384th Bombardment Group, flying many missions in air offensive over Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and Ardennes. John received two Distinguished Flying Crosses and an Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. After World War II, he played for Purdue University before graduating from Montana State University with a B.S. in Commercial Sciences, where he met his wife of 62 years, Eileen. John was drafted into the Professional Canadian Football league in 1949 as a quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was a Regional Sales Manager for the Parker Pen Company in Janesville, WI then moved his family to California in 1968, where he started his own business, The JW Gardiner Co. His favorite weekend pastime was playing golf at The Marin Golf and Country Club. Mr. Gardiner was preceded in death by his wife Eileen, son Richard, brother Bill Gardiner, and niece Kathy Pedrick. He is survived by sister Mary Ellen Gardiner, daughter Valerie Fiscalini, son Russ Gardiner (Sheila), grandchildren Chris Fiscalini (Allison), Katie Fiscalini, Jenn Piovan (Marco), Mike Gardiner, and Kathleen Gendreau (Joe), niece Terri Birrenkott (John), nephew John Gardiner (Jill), grandnephews Max and Jake Gardiner, grandniece Paige Gardiner, and great grandson Nicolas Fiscalini. Memorial Services will be held at 11:30 AM on Sat., April 25, 2015 at Valley Memorial Park, 650 Bugeia Lane, Novato, CA. The family wishes to thank Hospice of Petaluma. Please remember John by giving your loved ones a hug and telling them how much they mean to you.