Dennis D. Gardner

Dennis Dee Gardner, age 79, of Arapahoe, Nebraska passed away on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at Memorial Community Care, in Aurora, Nebraska. He was born on December 30, 1945, in Arapahoe, Nebraska to Vernon and Marjorie (Stagemeyer) Gardner. Dennis was the oldest of three.

He grew up on the family farm, North of Edison NE. He attended country school through the 8th grade. He then attended Arapahoe High School and graduated with the class of 1964. He joined the Nebraska National Guard in 1963 and was a member for 6 years. During that time, he met Margie Smith. On March 17th, 1968 they were united in marriage and to this union three children were born; Dana, Daniel, and Darren.

Dennis was a member of the Arapahoe Jaycees from 1970 to 1974. He worked on the farm alongside his dad and brother. In 1978, Gardner Land and Cattle was created by the three of them. Along with farming, Dennis had a huge passion for antique cars. He spent many weekends at car shows, swap meets, and attending many car club activities, with his family in tow. He enjoyed attending sports activities for his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Later in life he developed a hobby of buying and building pedal tractors, he grew quite the selection. He also had a huge love for old signs and antiques, not to mention Coca Cola. In 2018, he retired from the family farm and loved spending time at the downtown barbershop chatting with the guys. Getting coffee all around at different businesses. At Landmark in Arapahoe he was given the nickname “Free Cup”.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents George and Daisy Gardner, Bill and Lizzy Stagemeyer, granddaughter Katrina Gardner, great-grandson Jackson Gardner.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Margie of Arapahoe, Daughter Dana and wife Becky Prieto of Aurora, NE, son Daniel and wife Penny of Arapahoe, NE, and son Darren and wife Melissa Gardner of Loveland CO. Brothers Ron and wife Darcy Gardner of Edison, NE and Terry and wife Laurie Gardner of Hillsboro, Oregon. Ten grandchildren; Layta Gardner of Arapahoe, Andrew Gardner of Arapahoe, Patrick Gardner and Kayla Keefe of Minden, Brett Gardner of Arapahoe, Sabrina and Cody Davis of Council Bluffs, Iowa , Rebecca Gardner of Kearney, Robert Gardner of Arapahoe, Nevada Gardner of Lincoln, Maddie Condon of Loveland, Colorado. 16 Great-Grandchildren; Landon and Brayden Gardner, Kreden Tinsley and Maxton Rundback and soon to be Briggston Dennis, Elly and Deklen Gardner, Riley, Gracie, and Kelce Gardner, Addison Davis, Jaxson, Daxton and Kolter Gardner, and Emma Gardner as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

While at Memorial Community Care, he enjoyed the interaction and sarcastic bantering back and forth with the staff, especially Tera Wyatt that he basically adopted as another daughter. Dennis was one of a kind. Anyone who knew him loved him, anyone he told his stories to never walked away not smiling. He touched many people throughout his years. Though he will be missed in more ways than words can say, he left behind so many memories, laughter, and stories to keep people smiling for many years to come.