Raymond Gartner, 91, of Wheaton, formerly of Lombard and Elmhurst, a retired auditor for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad, died Sunday, Jan. 18, in his home. During Mr. Gartner’s five decades of working for the railroad, he never had a moment’s regret, family members said. “There couldn’t have been a better fit,” said his daughter Diane Keith. “He was one of the lucky ones, because he loved his job, and he was also very good at what he did.” Born on Chicago’s North Side, Mr. Gartner moved to Crystal Lake with his family while in his teens. He was 15 when he landed his first job with the Chicago Northwestern as a mail clerk. “He was a precise man, very good with figures, and that was something they spotted in him right off,” his daughter said. After several promotions, he became an auditor and later accepted a position as a traveling auditor, which took him all over the country. After several relocations, which included positions in South Dakota and Iowa, Mr. Gartner returned to the Chicago area in 1956 and made his home in Elmhurst. He retired in 1978. He also lived for a time in Lombard with his family and moved to Wheaton 12 years ago. Family members said Mr. Gartner was especially proud of his 62-year marriage to his wife, Mardelle, whom he married in 1942. “Longevity on the job was one thing, but being married to the same person for all those years really meant something to him,” his daughter said. Other survivors include a daughter, Kathryn Hisaw; a sister, Marge Lubas; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in St. Luke Lutheran Church, 23W080 Butterfield Rd., Glen Ellyn.
