John M. Gardner, Sr., 57, of Austin, Minnesota, died at his home on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017.

John was born Feb. 16, 1960, in Rochester, Minnesota, to John Gardner and Mary Lou Newkirk. He graduated from Austin High School in 1979. He served in the U.S. Army. John married Susan Tobar on Oct. 6, 1979. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle, taking part in cancer benefit runs, his grandkids, Mountain Dew, the Vikings (anyone against the Packers) and Hogan’s Heroes. He was a member of ABATE of Minnesota and the Flatlanders Motorcycle Club.

He was preceded in death by his mom, Mary Lou Brown; wife, Susan Gardner; and his sister, Gloria Bina.

 John is survived by his sons, John Gardner, Jr., Lakeville, Minnesota, Joshua Gardner, Moose Lake, Minnesota, and Ryan (Amy) Gardner, Austin; three grandchildren, Gabriella Gardner, Lakeville, Cash Gardner, Austin, and Cameron Hill, St. Paul, Minnesota; siblings, Gordy (Dawn) Gardner, Maquoketa, Iowa, Heather Racinelli, Woodbury, Minnesota, and Lonnie (Laurie) Brown, Austin; nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3, at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the service on Friday. The Celebration of Life will commence at 5 p.m. on Friday, at 308 11th Street NW in Austin.