Oral Claude Gardner Jr.

Oral Claude GARDNER Jr. (Oral C. Gardner, Sr.) was born 19 Aug 1918, in Mt.Pleasant, Racine Co., Wisconsin, and died 20 Nov 1944, in Zweifall, Germany.

Oral C. Gardner, Jr., 1944

MARRIAGE:

Oral married Gladys Lavilda MEYERS, daughter of Charles Earnest MEYERS and Almeda Loretta LUCE, on 5 Dec 1938 . Gladys was born 21 May 1919, in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan. She died 29 Aug 2003 in Lakeview, Montcalm Co., Michigan, and was buried 3 Sep 2003 in Blythefield Memory Gardens, Rockford, Kent Co., Michigan.

Gladys Gardner with her children

MILITARY:

Oral C. Gardner, Jr., was inducted into the U.S. Army on May 3, 1944. He was a Private in Co.G, 2nd BN, 8th Inf. Regt., 4th Inf. Division, in the European Theater of Operations.

"The Ivy," emblem of the 4th Inf. Div.

Oral died in the "Battle in the Hürtgen Forest" in Germany on 20 November 1944.

Learn more about the Battle in the Hürtgen Forest at these sights:

http://home.scarlet.be/~cv920172/index.htm

http://www.hurtgen1944.homestead.com/

http://vl.herr.home.att.net/

http://www.707tkbn.org/battles/siegfried.html

He was temporarily buried in the World War II Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial, located two miles northeast of the village of Henri-Chapelle , Belgium. It was from the temporary cemetery at Henri-Chapelle that the first shipment of remains of American War Dead were returned to the U.S. for permanent burial. The repatriation program began on July 27, 1947 at a special ceremony at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery when the disinterment began.

For more information on the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial:

http://www.abmc.gov/hc.htm

Oral's remains were returned to the U.S. in November, 1947. He was buried in South Boardman Cemetery, South Boardman, Michigan. The Gardner-Neihardt American Legion Post 463 in South Boardman is named after Oral.

Gardner-Neihardt America Legion Post 463, South Boardman, Michigan

Decorations and Awards earned were:

Purple Heart Medal

European-African-Middleastern

Campaign Medal with one bronze service star

WWII Victory Medal

ORAL C. GARDNER, JR. OBITUARY:

"The Leader and Kalkaskian", Kalkaska Co., Michigan, unknown date:

Oral Gardner Jr. Gives All For His Country:

Mrs. Oral Gardner received word from the War Department, this week that her husband, Pvt. Oral Gardner, Jr. had been killed in action in Germany, November 20, 1944. Oral Claude Gardner, Jr., son of Oral and ____ Gardner, was born at Racine, Wisconsin, Aug. 19, 1918. The family moved back to South Boardman in 19( ), where Oral attended school and grew to manhood. On Dec. 5, 1938 he married Gladys Myers, a school mate at Kalkaska. To them were born two children.....

Oral was inducted into the service (infantry) May 2, 1944. He trained at Fort McClellan, Alabama, going overseas in October, 1944. He was in England, Scotland, France, Belgium and Germany, where he was killed in action Nov. 20, 1944. Surviving are the wife and two children, his parents, Mrs. and Mrs. Oral Gardner, one brother, Marlen, in the Navy, stationed at the Great Lakes Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill., and four sisters, Mrs. Viola Zierk, and Mrs. Ida Roukowski of Racine, Wisconsin; Mrs. Doris Caul, of Detroit, and Mrs. Orma Gardner of Lansing.

Last year Mr. and Mrs. Gardner purchased the former Davis home in South Boardman, where Mrs. Gardner and the children now live. Oral was a fine, industrious young man and was loved by all who knew him. A memorial service for Oral C. Gardner will be held at the Methodist church in South Boardman, Wednesday, December 20.

-----------------------------

"The Leader and Kalkaskian," Kalkaska, Michigan, unknown date:

South Boardman Man Dies in Action:

This little community suffered its first tragedy of this war when Pvt. Oral Gardner, jr., was killed in action Nov. 20, according to a telegram received Wednesday by his wife.

Also surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oral Gardner, Sr.; a brother, Marlin, now in training at Great Lakes naval training station; two sisters, one of whom is in army service, and two half-sisters and two half-brothers who reside in Wisconsin.

Pvt. Gardner was born at Racine, Wis., Aug. 19, 1918. He moved with his parents to South Boardman when a small boy.

Memorial services will be held Dec. 20 at 2 o'clock at the Methodist church here.

Oral C. Gardner, Jr., headstone, Boardman Twp. Cemetery, South Boardman, Michigan

DEATH of GLADYS:

"Grand Rapids Press," Grand Rapids, Michigan, 31 Aug 2003:

GARDNER (Cedar Springs) - Mrs. Gladys L. Gardner, age 82, passed away on Friday evening, August 29, 2003, at her daughter's home in Lakeview. She had an abundant and generous love for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Gardening and enjoying flowers, especially roses and gladiolus, were a special delight to her. Mrs. Gardner is survived by....

She was preceded in death by her husband, Oral Gardner, Jr. who died while serving his country during WWII at the Battle of the Bulge and a daughter, Oralean Kern. The Service for Mrs. Gardner will be Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 at the funeral home. Interment in Blythefield Memory Gardens. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Big Rapids Area Hospice. Friends may celebrate Mrs. Gardner's life with her family from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 on Tuesday at the funeral home. The Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford

Oral and Gladys had the following CHILDREN:

1. Oralean Loretta GARDNER (Oral Claude, Jr.) was born 31 Mar 1939 in South Boardman, Kalkaska Co., Michigan. She died 22 Sep 2002 in Kent Co., Michigan.

DEATH of ORALEAN:

"Grand Rapids Press," Grand Rapids, Michigan, 23 September 2002:

Oralean Kern, aged 63, passed away on Sunday morning, September 22, 2002. For many years she worked for Knape & Vogt Manufacturing. Oralean liked to travel, especially cruises to Cancun, Mexico, with her loved one, Peter Bezara. Her grandchildren were a special delight to Oralean, and she loved to be with them, especially attending festivals, carnivals, Cedar Point, and Michigan Adventure. She wasn't one to sit around and plan ahead - she just forged ahead with the next adventure with her kids and grandchildren. For a special hobby she collected angels and had a huge collection. Her prime focus in life was making others happy and living life to the fullest...... She was preceded in death by her father, Oral Gardner. The Service for Oralean will be Thursday afternoon at 1:00 o'clock at the funeral home with Deacon Kenneth Baldwin, Presiding. Friends may celebrate Oralean's life with her family from 7 to 9 on Tuesday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 on Wednesday at the funeral home. The Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford.

2. LIVING

[Home] [Name Index]

[ Back to Top]

Email: Carol Gardner