Forrest Samuel Gardner

    GARDNER, Forrest Samuel, 76, BLAINE, at Presque Isle, May 14, 2015. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at the Funeral Home. Arrangements are under the care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, Presque Isle.

    BLAINE – Forrest Samuel Gardner, 76, passed away, May 14, 2015, at The Aroostook Medical Center, Presque Isle. He was born on September 2, 1938, in Hartford, CT, the son of William and Gladys (Welch) Gardner.
    Forrest moved to Maine with his family at the age of nine. As a young man, he was a machinist in Connecticut before serving his country in the U.S. Army as a Signal Corps Lineman and was honorably discharged in 1967.
    He started his own business, Foremost Spring Co., the same year.
    Forrest enjoyed foreign travel, the peacefulness of fly fishing and sailing, and more adventurous passions like scuba diving and sky diving. He cherished his family and friends, loved to make people smile wherever he went, and instigated many pranks.
    He is survived by his wife, Leslia Altamirano-Gardner; stepdaughter, Mayra Gonzalez; daughters, Martina Gardner, Julie Gardner, Debra Estabrook and Laura Gardner; sons, Dane Gardner and Ty Gardner; sisters, Marie Womboldt and Sally Prosser; brother, Willard Gardner; stepmother, Noi Gardner; and four grandchildren.
    In addition to his parents, Forrest was predeceased by his brother, John Gardner.
    Friends and family may call 1-2 p.m., Thursday, May 21, 2015, at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St., Presque Isle, where a funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. with Pastor Larry Palmer officiating. Interment will follow the service at Tapley Cemetery, Blaine. Online condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com.