John Nelson Gardner Sr., 97, of Winona Lake, Ind., passed away at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012, in his daughter’s North Manchester, Ind., home.

He was born Feb. 5, 1915, in Socorro, N.M., to John Morgan Gardner and Emma Adele (Haven Gardner. He graduated in 1933 from Hastings High School (Michigan); and went on to Michigan State where he graduated with a degree in Military Science and Tactics. He entered the U.S. Army Dec. 27, 1940, at Michigan State College (University) and served in the Southwest Pacific as an entomologist during World War II. On Sept. 23, 1944, 1^st LT. John N. Gardner was honorably discharged in Fort Sam Houston.

He married Dorthea Marie Miski on April 6, 1935, in Auburn, Ind. She died on May 19, 2007.  He ran the shipping department at Lambert Huffman Publishers from 1953 until his retirement in 1966.

Mr. Gardner cofounded the Maranatha Teaching Ministry and belonged to the Christian Business Men’s Fellowship.

Mr. Gardner is survived by two daughters: Lois (William) McKinney, North Manchester;  Esther (Ken) Kauffman, Columbia City, Ind.; two sons: Jack Eugene (Mary) Gardner, Morganfield, Ky.; John Nelson Gardner Jr., Warsaw, Ind.; 12 grandchildren; 19 great- grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; two brothers: Robert Gardner and a stillborn infant brother; and one grandson: John Gardner.

No visitation or service is planned. Burial will be at a later date with full military honors.

Titus Funeral Home is caring for the family.