Jack Russell Gardner

November 13, 1937 – September 18, 2017

Jack Russell Gardner was born on November 13, 1937 in Denver, Colorado to John and Juanita Gardner. He passed away peacefully September 18,2017 at the age of 79 in the Cottonwood Care Center in Brighton, Colorado. Jack was preceded in death by his wife Linda, his sister, Elsie Faye Bendorf, and his mother and father.

Jack spent his early years in Wyoming and then moved with his family to the ranch north of Eads, where he lived with his mother Nita, father John, and his sister Elsie Faye. As a boy, Jack was full of jokes and pranks all shared with his sister Faye, and the ranch hands.  He was known as a jokester!

In November of 1959 Jack married Linda Crow and they made their home in Eads. Linda passed away in 2012 and Jack continued living in Eads until March of 2017 when he entered the nursing home in Brighton.

Jack became a very successful business man in Eads. He opened the first Gamble Store and was owner, publisher and editor of the Kiowa County Press. Jack also managed and operated the Plains Theater. Serving on many boards in Eads, Jack played a big role in establishing the Chuck Wagon breakfast celebrated at the Kiowa County Fair. Voss Garage hired Jack as their cashier and he was clerk at the Best Western in Eads and the Bents Fort Inn in Las Animas, Colorado.

Jack was an accomplished photographer. His family, as well as the Colorado mountains and other national landmarks, were captured in time with his good eye and camera.

Being the lead drummer in the Tommy Liesen Band in Eads, he was known as an avid musician on the drums and the piano. Family gatherings are remembered with Jack at the piano pounding out a tune by ear and on many occasions, jam sessions with his uncles playing the violin and banjo.

Jack will be fondly remembered by his never-ending sense of humor, inspiring stories and jokes, along with his famous peanut brittle he made and shared at Christmas.

With his countless attributes, Jack touched many lives. He was a loving husband, father, grandpa, great-grandpa, uncle, cousin, friend, and will be sadly missed.

Jack is survived by his daughter Jackie, three grandchildren, Megan, Christopher and Nathan: three great grand-children, Jack, Sydney and Hunter, as well as brother-in-law Jimmy Bendorf, three nieces, great niece and nephews and cousins.

Graveside services will be held Friday, October 13, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the Eads Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Brown Funeral Home in Eads.