Obituary of Wayne Arnold Gardner

Born on October 12, 1910; Fremont, Nebraska, to Otis and Elsie Gardner. Passed away on September 12, 2009. Preceded in death by his parents, first wife Cleon, sisters Opal Nixon and Arlene Reilly, brothers Maurice and Dean Gardner, and son Calvin O. Gardner in 2001. Wayne grew up in Fremont. He was a varsity basketball and football player for Fremont High School, Cotner College and Midland Lutheran College. Following graduation from Midland, he went to Wausa, Nebraska to apply for a teaching/coaching job at the high school but was offered the principal’s job. He returned to Fremont a few years later to teach at Fremont High School . During summer months, he pursued his education at the University of Nebraska, earning his M.A. Degree. He continued his teaching career until accepting a commission in the U.S Navy during World War 11. He was discharged in Seattle, but stayed in the Naval Reserve. He returned to civilian life as a member of the Seattle YMCA staff (Director of the Technical School) and later became the General Secretary of the Tacoma YMCA. After several years with the YMCA, he became the first civilian Sports Director at Fort Lewis Army Post. Wayne was a pioneer of Reflexology and taught it at PLU for their Second Wind Program for many years. On October 12, 1957, he married Fujiko Tamura of Fife and University Place. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2007. From 1965, he was the Sports Director with the US 8th Army at Yongsan, Korea until 1973, returning to Fort Lewis and retiring from Civil Service in 1977. He was involved in sports officiating in football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, track and boxing. He was a member of the Western Washington Officials Association in basketball and football. He spent his later years officiating volleyball, until he reached 92 years of age. Honors received in Volleyball include: l981 USVBA “Leader in Volleyball”, 1985 USVBA “’Doc’ Booth Award”, 1988 Tacoma-Pierce County Volleyball Officials Board “Match Point Honor Award”, 2001 Volleyball Festival “Founders Award”. Hall of Fame Inductions include: 1993 “Midland Warrior Athletic”, 2004 Washington Officials Association, 2005 YMCA Volleyball- Pioneer Class, 2007 Tacoma-Pierce County Sports. Survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Fujiko, daughters Midori Foster (Jeff) and Mari Larsen, sister Beulah Schoenfeld, grandchildren Stephanie Roork, Kelsea (John) Holbrook, Brawny and Mandi Larsen, Kristin and Danielle Foster, and many nieces and nephews in Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, and Nebraska. Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Lakewood Elks Club, 6313 - 75th St. West, Lakewood. Private interment at Tahoma National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Mt. Tahoma Baptist Church, 5220 W. 74th St., Lakewood, 98499