Gardner (Grundy County, IL)

Notable Births & Deaths for Gardner ...

Below is our list of notable people who were born, died or were buried in the area surrounding Gardner. Please note that while we are collecting data on an ongoing basis, it's a big task and it's unlikely that our list will ever be more than a sample.

Scotty Bowers (Author)
- Born: George Albert Bowers
- He was born in Ottawa (IL) on July 1, 1923 (a Sunday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on October 13, 2019 (a Sunday).
- Ottawa is located in La Salle County and is 29 miles [46.7 km] to the west of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- At the time of his death, he was 96.
- He is buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery, which is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Scotty Bowers<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Los Angeles National Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Los Angeles National Cemetery (CA) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Gardner to Los Angeles National Cemetery
John William 'Bud' Clancy (Major League Baseball)
- He was born in Odell (IL) on September 15, 1900 (a Saturday) and died in Ottumwa (IA) on September 26, 1968 (a Thursday).
- Odell is located in Livingston County and is 16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- Ottumwa is located in Wapello County, Iowa.
- At the time of his death, he was 68.
- He is buried at St. Paul Cemetery, located 16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest of Gardner. The cemetery is located in Livingston County, Illinois.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for John William 'Bud' Clancy<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for St. Paul Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to St. Paul Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Gardner to St. Paul Cemetery
Jessie Davis (Opera Singer)
- Full name: Jessie Bartlett Davis
- She was born in Morris (IL) in September 1859 and died in Chicago (IL) on May 14, 1905 (a Sunday).
- Morris is located 13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest of Gardner. Both communities are located in Grundy County.
- Chicago is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- She is buried at Oak Woods Cemetery, which is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Jessie Davis<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Oak Woods Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Oak Woods Cemetery (IL) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Gardner to Oak Woods Cemetery
Sam 'Mad Sam' DeStefano (Crime figure)
- He was born in Streator (IL) on September 13, 1909 (a Monday) and died in Chicago (IL) on April 14, 1973 (a Saturday).
- Streator is located in La Salle County and is 27 miles [43.5 km] to the west of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- Chicago is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- At the time of his death, he was 63.
- He is buried at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, which is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Sam 'Mad Sam' DeStefano<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery (IL) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Gardner to Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery
Andrew 'Rube' Foster (Professional baseball)
- He was born in Calvert (TX) on September 17, 1879 (a Wednesday) and died in Kankakee (IL) on December 9, 1930 (a Tuesday).
- Calvert is located in Robertson County, Texas.
- Kankakee is located in Kankakee County and is 23 miles [37 km] to the east of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- At the time of his death, he was 51.
- He is buried at Lincoln Cemetery, located 45 miles [72.4 km] to the northeast of Gardner. The cemetery is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Andrew 'Rube' Foster<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Lincoln Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Lincoln Cemetery (IL) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Gardner to Lincoln Cemetery
Harold Lincoln Gray (Cartoonist, creator of Little Orphan Annie)
- He was born in Kankakee (IL) on January 20, 1894 (a Saturday) and died in La Jolla (CA) on May 9, 1968 (a Thursday).
- Kankakee is located in Kankakee County and is 23 miles [37 km] to the east of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- La Jolla is located in San Diego County, California.
- At the time of his death, he was 74.
- He is buried at Oakridge - Glen Oak Cemetery, which is located in Cook County, Illinois.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Harold Lincoln Gray<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Oakridge - Glen Oak Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Oakridge - Glen Oak Cemetery (IL) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Gardner to Oakridge - Glen Oak Cemetery
Merna Kennedy (Actress)
- Born: Maude Kahler
- She was born in Kankakee (IL) on September 7, 1908 (a Monday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on December 20, 1944 (a Wednesday).
- Kankakee is located in Kankakee County and is 23 miles [37 km] to the east of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- At the time of her death, she was 36.
- She is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery, which is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Merna Kennedy<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Inglewood Park Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Inglewood Park Cemetery (CA) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Gardner to Inglewood Park Cemetery
Fred MacMurray (Actor)
- Full name: Frederick Martin MacMurray
- He was born in Kankakee (IL) on August 30, 1908 (a Sunday) and died in Santa Monica (CA) on November 5, 1991 (a Tuesday).
- Kankakee is located in Kankakee County and is 23 miles [37 km] to the east of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- Santa Monica is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- At the time of his death, he was 83.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Fred MacMurray<1>
Edward Patrick 'Slip' Madigan (Professional football, coach)
- He was born in Ottawa (IL) on November 18, 1896 (a Wednesday) and died in Oakland (CA) on October 10, 1966 (a Monday).
- Ottawa is located in La Salle County and is 29 miles [46.7 km] to the west of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- Oakland is located in Alameda County, California.
- At the time of his death, he was 69.
- He is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery, which is located in Alameda County, California.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Edward Patrick 'Slip' Madigan<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for St. Mary's Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to St. Mary's Cemetery (CA) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Gardner to St. Mary's Cemetery
Johnston McCulley (Author)
- Full name: John William Johnston McCulley
- He was born in Ottawa (IL) on February 2, 1883 (a Friday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on November 23, 1958 (a Sunday).
- Ottawa is located in La Salle County and is 29 miles [46.7 km] to the west of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- At the time of his death, he was 75.
- He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park - Glendale, which is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Johnston McCulley<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Forest Lawn Memorial Park - Glendale
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Forest Lawn Memorial Park - Glendale (CA) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Gardner to Forest Lawn Memorial Park - Glendale
George Lawrence Mikan, Jr. (Professional basketball)
- He was born in Joliet (IL) on June 18, 1924 (a Wednesday) and died in Scottsdale (AZ) on June 1, 2005 (a Wednesday).
- Joliet is located in Will County and is 26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- Scottsdale is located in Maricopa County, Arizona.
- At the time of his death, he was 81.
- He is buried at Lakewood Cemetery, which is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for George Lawrence Mikan, Jr.<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Lakewood Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Lakewood Cemetery (MN) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Gardner to Lakewood Cemetery
John Bevins Moisant (Aviation Pioneer)
- He was born in Kankakee (IL) on April 25, 1868 (a Saturday) and died in Kenner (LA) on December 31, 1910 (a Saturday).
- Kankakee is located in Kankakee County and is 23 miles [37 km] to the east of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- Kenner is located in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.
- At the time of his death, he was 42.
- He is buried at Valhalla Memorial Park, which is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for John Bevins Moisant<1>
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Valhalla Memorial Park (CA) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Gardner to Valhalla Memorial Park
Francis Xavier 'Big Jeff' Pfeffer (Major League Baseball)
- He was born in Champaign (IL) on March 31, 1882 (a Friday) and died in Kankakee (IL) on December 19, 1954 (a Sunday).
- Champaign is located in Champaign County, Illinois.
- Kankakee is located in Kankakee County and is 23 miles [37 km] to the east of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- At the time of his death, he was 72.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Francis Xavier 'Big Jeff' Pfeffer<1>
George 'Lefty' Pierce (Major League Baseball)
- He was born in Shabbona Grove (IL) on February 10, 1888 (a Friday) and died in Joliet (IL) on October 11, 1935 (a Friday).
- Shabbona Grove is located in DeKalb County, Illinois.
- Joliet is located in Will County and is 26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- At the time of his death, he was 47.
- He is buried at Plainfield Twp. Cemetery, located 29 miles [46.7 km] to the north of Gardner. The cemetery is located in Will County, Illinois.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for George 'Lefty' Pierce<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Plainfield Twp. Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Plainfield Twp. Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Gardner to Plainfield Twp. Cemetery
Lynne Thigpen (Actress)
- She was born in Joliet (IL) on December 22, 1948 (a Wednesday) and died in Los Angeles (CA) on March 12, 2003 (a Wednesday).
- Joliet is located in Will County and is 26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- At the time of her death, she was 54.
- She is buried at Elmhurst Cemetery, located 26 miles [41.8 km] to the north northeast of Gardner. The cemetery is located in Will County, Illinois.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Lynne Thigpen<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Elmhurst Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Elmhurst Cemetery (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Gardner to Elmhurst Cemetery
Clyde William Tombaugh (Astronomer, discoverer of Pluto)
- He was born in Streator (IL) on February 4, 1906 (a Sunday) and died in Las Cruces (NM) on January 17, 1997 (a Friday).
- Streator is located in La Salle County and is 27 miles [43.5 km] to the west of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- Las Cruces is located in Dona Ana County, New Mexico.
- At the time of his death, he was 90.
- The body was cremated.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Clyde William Tombaugh<1>
Mabel Trunnelle (Actress)
- She was born in Dwight (IL) on November 8, 1879 (a Saturday) and died in Glendale (CA) on April 20, 1981 (a Monday).
- Dwight is located in Livingston County and is 8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- Glendale is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- At the time of her death, she was 101.
- She is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, which is located in Los Angeles County, California.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Mabel Trunnelle<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Hollywood Forever Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (CA) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Gardner to Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Vail Myrtle (Actress)
- Born: Myrtle Damerel
- She was born in Joliet (IL) on January 7, 1888 (a Saturday) and died in Kansas City (MO) on September 18, 1978 (a Monday).
- Joliet is located in Will County and is 26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast of Gardner (which is located in Grundy County).
- Kansas City is located in Jackson County, Missouri.
- At the time of her death, she was 90.
- She is buried at Ferncliff Cemetery, which is located in Westchester County, New York.
- Additional References
- Find-A-Grave Memorial for Vail Myrtle<1>
- The Find-A-Grave entry for Ferncliff Cemetery
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Ferncliff Cemetery (NY) (Patience, this may take a moment).
- From Gardner to Ferncliff Cemetery

Footnotes ...

<1>	The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.