William Edward Gardner

William Edward Gardner, age 83, of Whitehall, completed his earthly journey on Tuesday, July
30, 2024.
William “Bill”was born on March 8, 1941 to Frederick and Jeanette (Hansen) Gardner of
Whitehall.
He graduated from the Whitehall High School in 1959 and attended technical school in La
Crosse. In the summer of 1960, he and his high school sweetheart, Karen Oerke eloped. They
were married on August 3rd on their way to Idaho. After a short time there, they returned to the
Whitehall area where they lived after that.
Bill and Karen were involved in church and community service throughout their time there. They
attended Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church and were engaged in youth ministry there. Bill served
on the board of the Assembly of God Church in Whitehall and served in many ways there. He
was instrumental in starting, designing and building Lily of the Valley Church in the Arcadia
area for the Hispanic population there. They often attended there. They also attended Reaching
Out Ministries near Coral City and served on the board and helped in their food distribution
program.
Bill also served as mayor of Whitehall in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Somewhere there are
likely some pictures of him and Karen dressed up for the Bicentennial celebration. The Rod and
Gun Club building North of town owes much to the volunteering of Bill and his family. Next
time you visit check out the old photos of the crew who labored to build that oft-used community
facility. He was a volunteer fireman and could often be found grilling chicken during Beef and
Dairy days.
Bill was adept mechanically and had many professions that made use of this. He owned and
operated the Mobil Service Station in Whitehall for a time. Bill worked for Tru-Gas installing
gas lines throughout the Midwest. He learned the plumbing profession working with Louie
Boehm. That profession was how he spent much of his professional life. He also drove truck
with and for his brother-in-law, Adrian (Abe) Waldera and others.
He loved to fish and enjoy the outdoors. He and Karen had a permanent campsite on the
Chippewa Flowage at Daggett’s Resort for many years. Family still frequents this area nearly 40
years after they first started going there.
William is survived by his sons, Shane (Pam) of Cedar Falls, IA, David (Carol) of Whitehall and
Bakersfield, CA, John (Angie) of Whitehall and Fred (Stacey) of Whitehall; his grandchildren,
Mitch (Robin), Ryan (Kayla), Dusty, Logan, Brynn (Shane Fuller), Tyler (Tatyana), Chase,
Sarah, Nick (Lauren DiTallo fiance), Kaili (Kyle Koval) and Jacob; his great-grandchildren,
Camden (Gardner), Haddon, Kuyper, Brock, Cam (Fuller), Genevieve (Gardner) and Elena
(Gardner) and his sister, Diane Waldera.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Karen and his parents, Frederick and Jeanette Gardner.

The family would like to thank the staff at Dove Healthcare in Osseo and St. Croix Hospice for
their loving care of Bill.
The family asks you to join us for a celebration of life on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at the Jack
Funeral Home in Whitehall. Visitation will be from 1:00 – 3:00 pm with a funeral service
immediately following. Mr. Ricardo Rivera will officiate. Burial will be in the Old Whitehall
Cemetery in rural Whitehall.