Lunch will be provided following the service at the Cody Community Center on Main Street.

 

A visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 with a Celebration of Life at 6:00 PM at Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Hot Springs with Reverend Morris Nelson officiating.

 

A memorial has been established, and donations may be made to Prairie Lawn Cemetery, C/O Karen Ford, P.O. Box 224, Cody, NE 69211.

 

Online condolences may be made at www.chamberlainmccolleys.com. 

 

Donald passed away August 27, 2016 at Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, SD. He was born February 13, 1937 on a ranch near Merriman, NE to Deo Gardner and Lottie (Johnson) Gardner. He attended country school and graduated from Merriman High School. On July 16, 1960, Donald married the love of his life, Dorothy Pourier, and together they raised five children, Rick, William, Anita, Daniel and Colleen. Donald and Dorothy continued to reside in Gordon and Cody, NE until Dorothy passed away in 1987. Donald worked for the City of Gordon until he joined the Chicago-Northwestern Railroad in 1974. Donald moved to Lusk in 1988. He retired from the railroad in 2002 and moved to Hot Springs in 2013, where he lived the remainder of his life closer to family. Donald loved his horses, ranching, fishing, hunting, and picnicking with family and friends. 

 

Donald is survived by children William (Karen) Gardner of Myrtle Beach, SC, Anita (Glen Peckham) Thompson of Boise, ID, Daniel (Shelly) Gardner of Hot Springs, SD, and Colleen (Brian) Grove of Crawford, NE; daughter-in-law GiGi Gardner of Gordon, NE; grandchildren Lynx Gardner, Sable (Brian) Nelson, Sitka (Martin) Swayne, Lemur Gardner, Xuardae (Nick) Dibble, Xala (Joshua) Berryhill, Xantel Gardner, Hunter and Ty Pulscher, Frank (Kacee) Smith, and Jessica (Kimi) Smith; great-grandchildren Starla and Stanton Dibble, Abbigail and Gracie Smith, and Trever and Justin Brone.

 

Donald is preceded in death by wife Dorothy; son Rick Gardner; parents Deo and Lottie; brothers and sisters Kathleen Sones, Lucille Leach, Keith Gardner, and Melvin Gardner; and infant Shirley Gardner.

  

Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Hot Springs is in charge of arrangements for Donald D. Gardner.