John James Jack Gardner Jr. (1931-2016) Jack Gardner passed away peacefully on February 18, 2016. Jack was born in Chicago Illinois as John James Zahradnik, Jr. to the late John J. Gardner Sr. and the late Gwendolyn Gardner (Helenius). The family formally changed its surname from Zahradnik (of Bohemian ancestry) to Gardner when Jack was a child.Jack was the eldest of four children: Lawrence Gardner of Aurora, IL; Karen Ferencak of Lancaster, KY; and the late Jerry Gardner who resided in Tampa, FL at the time of his passing.Jack was married to Adelaide Morris (who now resides in Boynton Beach, FL), and together they raised five children: John J. Gardner III of Palmetto, GA; Mark Gardner of Washington, DC; Gary Gardner of Alexandria, VA; Kyle Gardner of West Palm Beach, FL; and Caroline Murphy of Boynton Beach, FL. Jack is remembered with love and affection by his five children and also leaves his rich legacy to his fourteen grandchildren: Jared, Benjamin, Jordan, Kate, Brandy, Sean, Jamie, Paige, Scott, Katherine, Jonathan, Zachary, Sam, and Ethan, and his five great-grandchildren: Aiden, Colton, Carter, Lea, and Charlotte. In his youth Jack was an accomplished pianist who studied at the Eve Piano Academy in Chicago. Upon graduation he entered the United States Air Force, where he served his country with honor and distinction for twenty-one years as a cryptologist and instructor. He accepted numerous duty assignments around the world, and completed his active duty military service in 1972, retiring with the rank of Master Sergeant from the National Security Agency (NSA) in Fort Meade, MD.Following his military career, Jack settled his family in Tampa, FL and embarked on a second career of twenty-four years with the United States Postal Service in Lakeland, FL. He served as a letter carrier for the majority of his postal career, moving into the maintenance department for the years leading to his postal retirement in 1997. Jack was a proud union member during his entire postal career, first with the National Association of Letter Carriers and then with the American Postal Workers Union. Jack kept up his active lifestyle into retirement, continuing his many hobbies and interests, including working in his massive vegetable and shrub garden, attending to the countless varieties of citrus trees that he nurtured with much care and precision, and routinely taking to the deeper waters of the Gulf of Mexico on fishing expeditions. He loved these pursuits nearly as much as spending time shooting pool, and shooting the breeze, and grilling steaks and fresh fish with his family and friends. And Jack loved to talk sports, and was a long-suffering fan who would in good spirits bemoan the oftentimes less than successful efforts of his Tampa Bay Bucs and his beloved Chicago Cubs. Regarding the latter, he was heard to say on many occasions maybe next year.Jack Gardner was a selfless individual, who was always looking after the well being of others. He provided decades of comfort, care, and support to his mother, Gwen, until her passing in 2006. Jack always was a kind and caring man who lived his life simply, and who always showed both dignity and respect to all. During his final years, Jack endured the ravages of Alzheimers disease. But even through this period of his long goodbye, he projected to everyone he encountered the same kindness and caring that defined his entire life. This was no surprise to all who knew him, because Jack was a kind and caring soul to his very core. Jack Gardner will be missed and remembered fondly by many.The family will gather at 1:00 pm on Friday, February 26, 2016 at Hodges Funeral Home at 11441 U.S. Highway 301 in Dade City, FL 33525, where a funeral service will take place at 2:00 pm, with burial to follow at Chapel Hill Cemetery. Funeal Service

Hodges Family Funeral Home & Cremation Center

Friday, February 26, 2016 2:00 PM 11441 US HIGHWAY 301 Dade City, Florida 33525 Directions