EUGENE “GENE” GARDNER

FAIRBANKS, Alaska- A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. James Cemetery in Milford, Mo. for Eugene “Gene” Emerson Gardner, 87, Fairbanks, who died Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017.

Arrangements are under the direction of Konantz Warden Funeral Home, Lamar, Mo.

Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, at the funeral home.

The obituary may be viewed and condolences sent online at www.konantzwarden.com.

Survivors include his wife, Kapsok; six sons, Mark, Wayne, Cole, Kent, Gene and Jimmy and his eldest brother, Rex, who lives in Redding, Calif.

He was preceded in death by four brothers and one sister.

Mr. Gardner was born July 26, 1930, in Sheldon, Barton County, Mo., to Floyd Aaron and Zula Mae (Beydler) Gardner. He had kept a home in Milford, Mo., until 2014, so he could always come home to visit family and friends and remember his roots.

He was well educated and a positive influence on the many people that had the good fortune to have met him. He retired as a Lt. Col. Army Aviator and spent much of his time in the service traveling the world, with many exciting stories to tell. He earned the Bronze Star for heroism during the Vietnam Conflict. After retiring from the army he went on his next adventure, spending the next 43 years in Fairbanks. He lived in Fairbanks longer than any other single place, where he and his wife enjoyed a large number of close friendships and enjoyed life to the fullest.

He always lived life his way and enjoyed people. His network of friends was one he cherished and spent much time cultivating. He had lived an accomplished, long and productive life. A fine man has been lost and he will be missed for a long time.