Dan's daughter Bailey chose the words for her Dad's memorial with much thought and love. This memorial is near Herb and Jean Maudsley, Dan's Grandparents.  

Today is a sad day for us Dan as we wake up to the third Anniversary of your passing.   In the spirit of "celebrating" your life we focus on remembering the good times and laughter that we shared.  This picture was taken during a break in the Vanscoy Quad Rally by Lisa Michnik and it is the last photo we have of you with us.  We had such a great day and you were full of stories and BS as usual!  We spent the whole afternoon zooming across fields and getting stuck and unstuck in the mud.  All good until I blew the motor in my quad which of course made you laugh even harder!  Wish you could have stayed for the fish fry but your sense of duty was so strong and your phone just kept ringing and ringing - so sadly off you went to deal with the other demands of the day.   We keep your greatest treasure safe, well loved and cared for but know that only you could fill that hole in her heart where you should be.   Miss you Bud, RIP Danny Boy!

Dan emailed us this photo on July 6, 2012 from up near Prince Albert where he had camped overnight.  He noted that it was the headwaters of the North and South Saskatchewan rivers and commented that it was "the most beautiful place on earth".

Solemnly shared by a fellow employee at SCO


Dan was very easy to get along with and would often have his bag lunch with us in the coffee room. We would often discuss Crop Insurance matters but also shared stories about family & different activities. 

Dan's door was always open to you--he was very approachable and easy to talk to.  At times I would discuss family issues with him and he was always very understanding and compassionate.

There were times when I had to ask for time off or leave work on the spur of the moment to care for my son,Daniel.    We were tansitioning Daniel into a group home and things were not going well.  Sometimes I would be called from work because of Daniel's behavior and Dan would never hesitate to allow me to go.  He always said "Family comes first."

Dan was very professional about his job.  He never avoided difficult situations with customers--he faced them head on but always tried to do what was right.

Dan had a great sense of humour and would share stories or forward the odd E-mail to us.  Every morning when he walked in the door he would greet me with a smile and a "Good Morning!" Sometimes, when I hear the door opening, I look up and still expect to see Dan coming in with that smile on his face. 

       

 I don't really remember the day when Dan first came to our CSO. He just seemed to quickly fit in with us and became part of the team.  Dan liked to get out of the office, seeing how conditions and people were, in the surrounding area.  We enjoyed having him as a ride along, cheerful, witty and willing to share with us his knowledge of farm fertilizers, chemicals, etc. that he gained from his past work history. I admired his communication skills he had with people, in general. We would stop at a farmer's yard and he would get in discussions with the customer. I could tell they enjoyed his cheerful smile, his listening to them with an actual interest. Dan made a lot of friends with the farmers. Dan had several close friends in the Hutterite colonies also.  He would have his nose in the Blackberry, every chance he had, emailing, texting or checking information from the laptop. He shared in the driving, reducing the use of the Blackberry somewhat.

He was driving the truck one spring day, driving through fields of small canola, trying to figure out if the USA acres were accurate, dodging potholes throughout the field. I was the navigator and we were trying to get out of the wet field and I would call a left or a right, as he talked on the phone and drove the truck.  We just about made it. We ended up with the truck's wheels partly on the road and the rear tires bogged down in mud. Dan hung up the phone. He knew someone who could pull us out.  He always knew someone, always had good connections. Phoned and in 15 minutes we were out of there. He kept busy the whole time we waited, texting, emailing...never missed a beat.  He loved his Blackberry!

Well, it was great to know and work with him. He showed us how to deal fairly with customers and was never intimidated if a problem situation arose with them. He was always busy, mult-tasking his work. In his off work time he always had something on the go, whether it was fishing, hunting, golf or horses. He loved his family and knew that was who came first with him, proudly talking about LeeAnn or Bailey.     

How do you talk about someone who is so clearly missed? We remember the smiles, the laughter and the friendship. Dan was a good boss and a good friend to all who met him. He had a quick smile and a kind word (or advice) for everyone. He never held back and was honest which made us take another look at ourselves or the situation.  He was one of the kindest people I have ever met. We talked a lot about MS as my younger sister also has this disease, and how everyone is affected differently. What helped to ease the pain and what didn't seem to make a difference. The costs, the hopes and the fears that seem to come with a family member who is affected by MS and the elusive cure.  

We also talked extensively about Bailey and how she was turning into such a wonderful young lady. He would show me videos on his blackberry of her riding barrels, singing and acting at school.  He was so proud of her and it showed in the way his face would light up as he talked about her accomplishments.  He was a devoted father and husband.

He cared about each and everyone of us in the Saskatoon CSO. All of the memories everyone has shared proves what a great person he was. In September of 2011, I went to a Live-In-Retreat in Medicine Hat, Alberta. I would like to share a letter from Dan that I received at that retreat.  

September 2, 2011

Dear Debbie:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you. 

Your personality, professionalism, work ethic, attitude and intelligence make my days at SCIC much better and many of the issues we encounter tolerable.  

You always have a great sense of humor and are very easy to communicate with whether it is a difficult task to be completed or mindless joke you handle all situations exceptionally well.  I put my complete trust in you to complete any task promptly, professionally and accurately.  I appreciate you and all you do every day. 
I THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU. 
Sincerely,   
Dan Gardner

Dan I miss you, your smile, your laughter, and your encouragement. I miss you!!

 

Dan liked a challenge and was not scared to take on any job in the office especially budgets and paying bills (haha...we had lots of laughs), at home or outdoors.

Dan had a great sense of humor and would share stories or forward the odd E-Mail. Every morning when he walked in the door he would greet you with a smile and  a "Good Morning!" Sometimes, when I hear the door opening, I look up and still expect to see Dan coming in with that smile on his face. 

Dan seemed to quickly fit in with everyone at the office and became part of the team and a good friend.  My husband Allen and I got to share the love of fishing with Dan and Bailey and few  weekends.  And I will always remember that Al would come in and he would sit with Dan and compare their fishing and hunting stories of the past weekend and who caught the biggest.  If you ever had a chance to talk to Dan you know that he was a very proud of his daughter.  There wasn't a day that went by that he didn't talk about her. 

RIP DAN--you will always be missed but never forgotten.      

Bailey has some truly amazing support systems through her school and family.  It is  with great appreciation this condolence is offered here by her teacher and obvious  friend Mrs. K. (With permission)


Bailey, 
It's impossible to say the right thing at a time like this.  I know your Dad loved and cherished you. I hope you can find some comfort in that. Sometimes life throws curveballs that knock you down. I am confident that your support system (family and friends) will help you get back up.  If you ever need a shoulder to cry on, or someone to yell at, I'll be there for you.  Thinking of you and praying for you daily. Mrs. K.   

This condolence for Bailey was written by treasured and true  friends of Dan and LeAnne, Rhonda , Stuart, Cassidy, Kenzie and Dion Nemez. With their permission it is included in this tribute to Dan.

Bailey, 
Sometimes it's hard not wish for one more day, one more word, one more chance to say what's in your heart, but you should believe ever-so-deeply that you were a joy to your Dad every day of your life and he was immensely proud of you.  It was a privilege to have known him and we can see that his goodnes lives on through you.  He will always be remembered as a hard-working, honest and respectable man, and a great father. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, Bailey. Take Care XOXO Love, Rhonda, Stuart, Kenzie & Dion Nemez

 

This photo was taken in a park in Brandon, Manitoba. Family photos were taken the day after a cousins wedding May, 1998.

It was July, 2003 in Roblin Manitoba when an 80th Birthday party was held for  Grandma Jean.  This picture features her eight grandchildren, four boys and four girls. Dan enjoyed visiting with his grandmother and even as a young man would drop in for coffee, a good meal and good company. Jean Maudsley predeceased Dan in 2005.  We love and miss you both.

This is a poem choosen by Dan's cherished  daughter Bailey and was part of the Celebration of Life Service for her Dad. 

A lucky few of us were able to call him Dad
     A husband and father who gave
  us unfailing support and all of his love
      in so many ways.

To many others he was "Uncle Dan"
     "Mr Gardner of just "Danny".
A cherished family member, a teacher
      and a good friend.
 
All of our memories of him are fond.
He left us with much for which we are grateful.
We are all better people for having known Dad. 

I got to know Dan as the manager of the customer service office of  the Sask. Crop Ins. Corp. in Saskatoon.
Dan was a manager who didn't just make decisions from behind the desk. He went out into the fields to learn first hand in order to make an "educated" decision. He was of a curious nature, wanting to understand "how things worked" backed-up by years of experience in the field of agriculture. He was what i would call " a dedicated guy"  who also asked the uncomfortable questions in order to get to the bottom of a problem.
We'll cherish the moments that we had the privilege to share with him.
He will be missed but not forgotten!
Rest in peace my friend!

 picture # 1431 shows him in a Canaryseed field inspecting blackbird damage
                         (Aug. 2011)

Daniel John Gardner 1967-2012

Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away to the next room.
I am I and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other,
That, we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way
which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word
that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect.
Without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same that it ever was.
There is absolute unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you.
For an interval.
Somewhere. Very near.
Just around the corner.

All is well.

Henry Scott Holland

I have many fond memories of spending time with Dan and the Gardner boys. Growing up with three sisters, Jack and Ellen would welcome me into their home where I got to go from three sisters to three brothers. 

I learned so much (good and bad) from my time in Yorkton and at the lake. I remember Danny teaching me how to water ski, hunt, ride a dirt bike, and drink. He also taught me anything goes with Ketchup, how to take a beating (Rod and I took many off thoses, but Dan would always go easier on me than Rod). He was also so resourceful. When at the lake one winter Dan was going to make soup and told me to go get water. As there was no plumbing in the cabin, I was not sure what to do. I was so amazed that Dan turned a pot of snow from outside into boiling water.

It was amazing how easy Dan made waterskiing looking. He was so patient as he would try and try again until he got me out of the water. I would have the biggest smile on my face as he towed me around the lake. I thought I was great until Dan would go next and make one ski or barefoot look so easy.

I will also remember my first ever beer that I had. Danny pulled the beer as I was twelve or thirteen, and bringing it back to Grandma's and sharing with Rod and I. I felt so old sipping on a beer on the front steps.

Dan was also so willing to give advice. I rember telling Dan I was looking at buying a Ford Explorer. I was so excited and knew he had one. Dan told me it was the worst vehicle he had ever purchased and what a gas guzzler it was. I went from excitement of almost buying one, to going back to the dealership to say it was a no go.   

Dan was also a good wingman. Being towed along to parties because he was probably told he had to, was always fun. When girls would come up and ask who I was and what you were doing there, instant acceptance and attention would come when you said you were with Dan, and were his cousin.  

Thanks for the memories. You are missed!           

                         

A number of years ago before Danny got married, He and I decided to walk to the local watering hole.  We sat down at a table next to a gaggle of young ladies.  They proceeded to pay alot of attention to Danny. Danny being shy and reserved was  trying very hard to ignore them.  Inspite of having to leave with an old uncle I think we both had a good time.  I have to admit the walk home was quite a bit farther. The next day was also a hoot as Dan and I told conflicting stories as to whom the girls were pursuing.

Daniel and Shaun were staying at our home in Winnipeg for a few days to allow Mom and Dad a vacation.  Daniel would be about 7 years old and handed me his  jeans to wash.  He patiently waited some time and then began to inquire about their whereabouts.  I told him I hadn't done the laundry yet.  His response "Its been two days ."  I did not have children at that time and did not know about the value of favourite clothing. I obviously did not offer the one-day service to which he was accustomed.