Dean Miles Gardiner, 78, of Bloomer and formerly of Portage, died Wednesday, December 11, 2002 at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire. He was born on March 26, 1924 in Corning, Iowa the son of Warren and Sybil (Lincoln) Gardiner.\r\nDean served in the U.S. Army from October 23, 1942 until his honorable discharge on October 29, 1945. His tour of duty took him to Northern France, Rhineland, and Ardennes. He was awarded the Eamet Campaign Medal with 4 bronze service stars.\r\nHe attended the University of Colorado, Denver, and the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.\r\nDean married Marion L. Froberg on December 24, 1950 in the Boston, MA area. Marion died in 1977. Dean later married May Rumann on March 9, 1978 in Portage, Wisconsin. Dean was a physical therapist at St. Mary's Hospital in Wausau and then at Divine Savior Hospital in Portage beginning in 1967 until his retirement in 1985.\r\nSurvivors include his wife, May of Bloomer, three sons, Gary of Pardeeville, Stephen of Westfield and Ronald of Fayetteville, NC; step-son, Larry Rumann of Cheyenne, WY; step-daughter, Marcia Koeppel of New Auburn; sister, Gertrude McKee of Jackson, CA.; eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.\r\nHe was also preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Arthur Gardiner and sister, Lucille Kincaid.\r\nMemorial services will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, December 15, 2002 at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home, Eau Claire with Pastor Mark Geisthardt officiating. Family and friends may call an hour prior to services Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Silver Lake Cemetery at Portage, WI.

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