The funeral service for Charles William "Bill" Gardner will be at 11:00 am Wednesday March 9, 2011 at River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home, with Rev. Bruce Buller officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Rochester. Visitation will be held from  5:00 – 7:00 pm on Tuesday March 8, 2011 at River Park Chapel  and one hour before the service on Wednesday at the chapel also.

Mr. Gardner,  83 of Rochester,  died Saturday March 5, 2011 at Sunrise Cottages in Rochester.

Bill was born October 7, 1927 in Chatfield, Mn. to Walter and Esther (Sackett) Gardner. On November 10, 1961 he married Marion Cook at New Hampton, Iowa. Mrs. Gardner died March 28, 1991 in Rochester. Bill lived most of his life in Rochester.

Bill was a retired truck driver for Rochester Sand and Gravel and was a member of the teamsters union. Marion was a retired psychiatric aide for the state hospital in Rochester

Bill is survived by 2 step-daughters Sandra (Stan) Sterling and Sharon Briggs, both of Rochester, and  1 step-son Roger Krahn of Rochester, and a step-grandson Chris Krahn of Rochester, plus many other step- grandchildren. He is also survived by 3 brothers, Joe (Sharon) of Dexter, MN. ; Paul Gardner  of  Rochester ; Victor (Jane)  Gardner of Winona, and 1 Sister Doris Gober of Rockford, Illinois. Bill is also survived  by many nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his wife,  his 5 brothers, Russell, Donald, Patrick, John , and Thomas, and his 2 sisters Rosemary Manahan, and Marjorie Gardner. Bill is also preceded  by a step-son and great step-son.