Craig M. Gartner aka “Fudd”, 65, Dickinson, died Wednesday April 27, 2016 at Sanford Health, Bismarck with his brother and sister-in-law at his side. Craig’s Liturgy of Word Service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 7, 2016 at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, with Deacon Ron Wolberg presiding. Inurnment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, New England. Visitation will be on Friday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Ladbury Funeral Service.
Craig was born July 22, 1950 in Dickinson, to Pete and Beryl (Van Dervoort) Gartner. He was raised and educated in Dickinson and graduated from Dickinson High School in 1968. In his high school days he played guitar in the band “Gates of Iniquity”.
Following graduation he left ND to experience life, several years later he returned to ND where he was employed for the State Highway Dept. and the Queen City Club as a bouncer, a job he enjoyed as he got to visit with a lot of people.
Fudd lived his life the way he wanted to, enjoying good food, good friends and good times. He had a great sense of humor, he was asked one time why he never married and he said “I’ll get married when I’ve dated 100 women but I only got to 75 and was worn out”.
He enjoyed gardening, taking care of his 3 cockatiels Bogey, Spike and Pooh, listening to 70’s and country western music, keeping up with the news, watching Ice Road Truckers, COPS and spending time with friends watching the Super Bowl.
He enjoyed the company of Daisy, his neighbors Chihuahua, who would come over to his house, scratch on the back door, jump up on the couch and keep him company. He made many friends in his lifetime and cherished those friendships ’till his death.
He was loved by his family and will be missed. He leaves behind three brothers, Dudley (Sharon) Gartner, Bismarck, Frank (Debbie) Gartner, Dublin, Calif., Rodney (Judy) Gartner, Fargo, and one sister, Marla (Ken) Praus, Dickinson; six nieces, Jennifer (James) Mohundro, Lincoln, Alesha (Jorge Baraibar) Gartner, Dublin Calif., Angie (Jim) Mackey, Dickinson, Amy (Ryan) Schiff, Dickinson, Nichol (Tony) Kordonowy, Dickinson, Rhianna (Ryan) Spiekermeier, Shakoppee, Minn.;five nephews, Jason Gartner, Minot, Matthew Gartner, Dublin, Calif., Joshua (Joyen) Gartner, Honolulu, Hawaii, Andy Olson, Honolulu, Hawaii, Zack (Sarah) Olson, Fargo; four great-nieces, Jasmine Stacy, Rasia and Sophia Mackey, and Josie Spiekermeier; and nine great-nephews, Damon Fichter, Bryce Gartner, Collin Spiekermeier, Stryker Kordonowy, Scott and Andrew Mohundro, Gavin Gartner, Frost Mackey, and Brayden Baraibar.
He was preceded in death by his parents; paternal grandparents, Mike and Anna Gartner; maternal grandparents, Frank and Mabel VanDervoort; along with several aunts, uncles and cousins.
