Michael Gardner

Heaven became a much livelier place on September 15, 2016, when Michael C Gardner, aged 64, of Newburg, passed away suddenly at his home. Mike will be remembered for being an amazing husband, father, grandfather, uncle, son, brother, and friend; as well as his ability to make friends wherever he went.

Mike was born in Chambersburg on August 9, 1952, and is survived by his patient and loving parents, Lee H. and Joyce (Mitchel) Gardner, of Shippensburg. Mike is also survived by 3 brothers, Ken (Carole), Steve (Gloria), and Keith (Lisa), all of Newburg. The Gardner brothers will continue to make Mike proud by raising hell as a collective group.

Mike was a 1970 graduate of Shippensburg High School (God bless those poor teachers), and worked for the Pennsylvania Turnpike until he retired in 2004. Mike married the love of his life, Kathy (Hoover) Gardner, 42 years ago, and the two of them raised two children, Jennifer “Punka Lunka Skunka” (Ryan) Kipe, and Jason “Buckwheat” (Kristin Heberlig) Gardner. Mike was always one of those “Cool Dads” who loved entertaining his children’s friends and coaching Jason’s baseball teams.

If Mike wasn’t being a hermit at the Pinnacle, he spent his retirement traveling with Kathy, spending time with his family, and spoiling the crap out of his grandsons, Isaac Kipe, Joshua Gardner, and Gabriel Gardner. He and his grandsons enjoyed 4-wheeling, hunting, vacationing at the lake, and completing projects together.
Mike also enjoyed spending time with his many lifelong friends, drinking beer, hunting mushrooms, playing shuffleboard, talking on the phone, and patrolling the mountain. Mike and Kathy’s home was always filled with family, friends, love and laughter. To know Mike was to love him, and he will be missed by many.

A celebration of Mike’s epic life will be held at Mike and Kathy’s home at 160 Pinnacle Drive, Newburg, on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in Mike’s name to a charity of your choosing.