July 20, 1925 - July 10, 2008

Thomas T. Gardner, 82, of East Grand Forks, Minn., formerly of Albany, died Thursday at the Battle Lake Golden Living Center, where he had resided for the past six days.

Beloved son of Ernest and Emma (Leskinen) Gardner, Tom was born in Ironwood, Mich. He attended local schools and was the senior class president at Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood. Tom was proud and honored to serve our great nation during World War II, joining the Army Air Corps at the age of 18. He flew many missions as an Eighth Air Force Combat Airman out of Ipswich, England, over Germany as a bombardier and waist gunner. On his 21st mission, his B-17 Flying Fortress was hit by enemy fire and he was forced to parachute out. Tom was captured by the Germans and spent six days as a prisoner of war, when the war ended and he and others were picked up by General Patton's 5th Armored Division. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, and three Clusters before being honorably discharged in September 1945.

Tom married Verena Armenia Mazzon in Hurley, Wis., on Sept. 6, 1946. They moved to St. Paul, Minn., where Tom attended Hamline University and played collegiate football.

In 1950 Tom began a 22-year career with Cities Service/Gulf Oil Co. in the credit and sales departments. The family also lived in Arlington Heights, Ill., and East Grand Forks. In 1972 they moved to Lodi, Calif., where Tom worked at Goehring Meat Company until retiring in 1987 to Albany.

Tom loved the outdoors, camping, playing cards and watching football. He especially cherished time spent with his three daughters and their families.

He is survived by his three adoring daughters, Carole and husband Jerry of Albany, Linda and husband Tim of East Grand Forks, and Patti and husband John of Lockeford, Calif.; nine grandchildren; sister Marcella Schultze of Sacramento, Calif.; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

His parents preceded Tom in death, and his beloved wife of 48 years died in 1994.

The family would like to thank the staff at Edgewood Vista for their compassionate care during the last four years of Tom's life.

A visitation will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Stennes Funeral Home, 2029 Central Ave. N.W., East Grand Forks, Minn. A memorial service will follow at the funeral home.

The family prefers memorials to support the Alzheimer's Association.

Stennes Funeral Home is handling arrangements (www.stennesfuneralhome.com).