William Heber Gardner, age 94, passed away on Monday, October 18, 2021 in Delta, Utah. He was born on July 7, 1927, the fourth of the 8 children of Edward Eugene and Gene Lovell Gardner. William was born at his parent’s home in Delta. He grew up in Delta with 5 brothers and 2 sisters, as well as many beloved cousins. William graduated from Delta High School in 1945. He served 14 months in the US Army during the end of World War II. He then served a mission for the L.D.S. Church in Australia. After returning, he attended LDS Business College, and there William met the love of his life, Enid Louise Lauritzen. William and Enid were married and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on May 4, 1950. William and Enid were blessed with their first child, William Rex, in April of 1951. Neil John was born two years later in February of 1953, and then Garth Eugene in May of 1959.
William began a career as a Customer Engineer for the International Business Machine Corporation (IBM) and made a home for his family in Ogden, Utah. In 1971 William moved his family to Elko, Nevada. They lived in Elko until relocating to Delta, Utah in 2004. While living in Delta, he could be found either on a sporty three-wheel bicycle or helping his Nephew, Russ, putting in a ditch. He was a fixture at the Delta 3rd Ward. He loved to greet people at the door and handed out a LOT of mentos.
William was passionate about genealogy. He spent a vast amount of time working in and with the LDS Family History Center. He was quick to help just about anyone with anything. There was no machine that William couldn’t figure a way to repair or improve. He loved to tinker with computers. He was passionate about his family. William loved without condition. He tried to teach and inspire everyone to be the best person they could be, without judging or shaming anyone.
William loved all of his sons and loved his grandkids dearly. He was the true Patriarch of the family and was a true Gentleman. He loved Delta. He loved the people and the town and would not consider living anywhere else. He will be sorely missed by all that knew him, his family, his friends and his neighbors.
William is survived by his sons: Neil and Garth; grandchildren: (Rex’s) Michael, Marie and Rex; (Garth’s) Michael, Tanya and Kari; great-granddaughters: Alexis and Summer; and younger brother: Larry Gardner. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife: Enid; his parents: Edward Eugene and Gene Lovell Gardner; siblings: Ted, Artemisia, David, John, Muriel and Ron; as well as his oldest son: William Rex Gardner.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, October 29, at 1:00 pm, at the Delta 3rd Ward LDS Chapel, 197 South 300 West. A Viewing will be held at the church, 11:30-12:40, prior to the service. Friends are also invited to view the recorded video of the service. The link will be posted with his obituary at www.nicklemortuary.com by Friday afternoon. Burial with military rites will follow in the Delta City Cemetery.