Ciaran Gardner

Ciaran Power Gardner died quietly at home with his beloved cats at his side. Ciaran was the third child of Louis Phillip Augustus Gardner and Sarah Elizabeth Marean. He was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 17, 1939. He spent his childhood growing up on Ashland Avenue in Detroit. In 1946 the family moved to Echo Township near East Jordan. He graduated from Central Lake Public School in 1957. He enlisted in the US Air Forces in 1960. He spent most of his enlistment in England at Lakenheath Air Base. After his enlistment, he returned to Northern Michigan and worked at Strehl’s garage and Lee’s Leonard in East Jordan. He began work at Harbor Industries in Charlevoix in 1970 and worked there as a foreman until retiring. 

Ciaran was a very well read person and greatly enjoyed sharing his knowledge and philosophy with friends and family. You could always count on a lively discussion if Ciaran was in the room. He loved nature, especially planting trees. He often enlisted his nieces and nephews in tree planting afternoons. He got many trees from the Conservation District. He also loved cats and dogs and had many over his lifetime. The past few years he adopted a number of cats from the Antrim County Shelter. He was also very creative with wood, loved his chain saw and had created a wood shop and a garage to repair vehicles at his home. He loved motorcycles, and made several long motorcycle trips with his brothers, including cross country.

He is survived by several siblings, Brianna (Darl) Bennink of East Jordan, Kevin (Sharon Danforth) Gardner of East Jordan, Padraic (Eileen) Gardner of Vacaville, CA, Alice (James) Burton of Omaha, NE, Nuala R. Gardner of Couer d’Alene, ID, Colmcille Rauri Gardner of Kalkaska, Vincent Gardner of East Jordan, Seumas (Sharon Charbonneau) Gardner of Ellsworth, sister-in-law Susanne Gardner of Ellsworth.

He was preceded in death by his parents and 3 brothers, Shaun, Brendan, and Maurice Gardner. Also 3 sisters-in-law, Lucille, Brendan’s wife; Linda, Maurices wife, and Colmcille’s wife, Christine; also one brother-in-law, James Burton, many nieces and nephews that enjoyed interacting also survive. Ciaran had many friends he had made over the years, from work, from the community, from coffee times at the South Arm Café and the Front Porch, and places too numerous to mention. Those friends were all very precious to him. The family would like to give a special thank you to Stan Bennett and Dennis Hoffman.

There will be a private interment at a later date.

Anyone wishing to do something to honor Ciaran, please consider planting a tree or donating to your local animal shelter.

Arrangements are in the care of the Ellsworth Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.