Russell R. Gardner, formerly of Arlington Heights, IL. Memorial Services for Russell R. Gardner, 76, of Fontana, WI will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Presbyterian Church, 6 Brinker Road, Barrington, IL. A lunch reception will follow at Lake Barrington Shores, Barrington, IL. Born Aug. 10, 1929, in Denver, the son of the late Thor and Margaret, nee Roosevelt, Gardner, he died Monday, June 26, 2006, at Harbor House of Lake Geneva in Lake Geneva, WI after a prolonged illness. Mr. Gardner graduated high school from Morgan Park Academy in Beverly, IL in 1947. He graduated from Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH with a B.A. in History in 1951. Russ started his professional career as a salesman for the Elgin Watch Company and later worked for the Bulova Watch Company as well. In 1976, he founded Gardner & Geldmacher of Schaumburg and Itasca, IL and was part-owner for 20 years, retiring in 1996. On Sept. 20, 1980, he remarried the former Barbara Robinson after having been married to Patricia Lindner for 23 years. In his retirement, Russell and Barbara traveled extensively and enjoyed splitting their time between their homes in Lake Geneva, WI and Vero Beach, FL. Russell is survived by his wife of 25 years, Barbara; his three children by his first wife Patricia, Susan P. (Stephen Blair) Gardner of Bellingham, WA, Jeffrey R. (Jenny) Gardner of Barrington, IL and David R. Gardner of Lake Zurich, IL; two stepchildren, Bill (Kristine) Michalson of Orlando, FL and Linda (Robert) Fortino of Fontana, WI; three grandchildren, Wesley and Megan Gardner and Forrest Gardner-Blair; and three stepgrandchildren, Andrew and Shea Blair and Amy (Billy) Maher; a sister, Betty (Al) Nelson of Sterling, IL and brother, William (Marilyn) Gardner of Glenview, IL. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the Gardner family has requested memorials in Russell’s name be made to the Parkinson Association. Arrangements were made by the Haase-Derrick-Lockwood Funeral Home and Crematory in Lake Geneva, WI, 262-248-2031.
