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Two Noteworthy souls Leave vs <br />Two very :noteworth y people who had an impact <br />on Gem Lake... One was a: long-time resident who <br />served on the Gem Lake City Council, another <br />was an irndividual who worked at a Gem Lake <br />business for over.66 years. <br />Dick.Garner <br />White Bear Floral recently lost a beloved member <br />of their .team: with the .passing of Richard "Dick" <br />Garner: Dick: started. his career with the floral <br />shop when they were. looking. for help in 1958. In <br />his 65-year career there, Dick did literally <br />everything, rarely missed a day of work and <br />helped build the shop into what it is today, <br />according to owner John Birkeland.. He was still <br />working every day.almost until the day he died at <br />age 86.. <br />Dick was born. in 1936 and grew up on a farm in <br />the White Bear area. He was the oldest of nine <br />children. Dick began working at the age of 14 for <br />Gem Lake's first mayor,. Henry Hoffman; doing <br />.construction work, When he began ills job at <br />White Bear Floral, he became a much needed <br />'jack -of -al ktrades. " Dick did everything from <br />flocking Christmas trees,.. starting bedding plants, <br />making holiday wreaths, waiting on customers, <br />and taking. charge of "back -roam operations." <br />He loved to work and almost never deviated from <br />his full work -day. This February, he apologized <br />profusely for missing out on some of the <br />Valentine's Day work. Few realized how ill he <br />was. <br />According to John. Birkeland, "Dick was a <br />godsend. Just what. we needed at: the time. <br />Along with my Mom and Dad. and.my Aunt Esther, he <br />helped to build the operation into .what you see around <br />yo.u. today. He was a fixtuee,. a teacher, and .such a hard <br />worker.' <br />Dick died of natural. causes. on February 17. He is. <br />survived by a son and two daughters,:as well as two <br />brothers and two sisters, nine nieces. and nephews, <br />three grandchildren, three. great grandchildren and <br />many friends. A very well attended .Celebration of Life <br />was held.in his honor:at White. Bear Floral. He will be <br />greatly missed. <br />David Kenneth Garner <br />David Gardner was a resident of Gem Lake for decades <br />and. also had a home. in Tucson, Arizona,. where he <br />spent most winters in recent years. <br />David was born in 1940 in Huron, South Dakota and <br />graduated from Harvard College in 1962. He was <br />known as a brilliant. man and enjoyed a 31 year career <br />in Institutional Equity 5aiesfor Merrill Lynch, where he <br />demonstrated a passion for financial investments. <br />He was also }mown as an avid outdoorsman and lover <br />of nature. He enjoyed roaming the outdoors..with his <br />beloved dogs. He had an innate Curiosity and was..a <br />student of everything, according to friend ,and former <br />Gem Lake. city clerk, Fritz. Magnuson. "I am proud to <br />have had him as. a friend.' <br />David was the chairman of Gem Lake's Planning <br />Commission in the 1990's. He came in. after Judson <br />Bemis; and before Jack Hoeschler, both of whom also <br />chaired the Planning Commission, according. to Fritz. <br />Fle.provided much.needed guidance on beginning to <br />plan for future growth. <br />❑ick.passed away fast September and is survived by <br />his wife of 61 years., Leslie Gardner, as well as a son <br />and. daughter and. two..grandchildren.. Neighbors <br />rernerr ber him as a warm and wonderful. person, full of <br />interesting knowledge and a. love of nature. <br />