Gordon Wayne Wardinsky, 92

| April 28, 2019 4:00 AM

Gordon Wayne Wardinsky, 92, passed away peacefully following Easter church service on April 21, 2019, at Wel-Life assisted living in Kalispell.

Gordon was born on June 17, 1926, in Great Falls, the youngest son of Harry and Pearl Wardinsky. He grew up in the Lower Sun River area of Great Falls and attended Charles Russell Elementary School and graduated from Great Falls High School in 1944.

Following graduation he joined the United States Navy and served on an aircraft carrier, USS Gilbert Island, in the South Pacific arena. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and returned to Great Falls. On June 4, 1950, he married Bernice Falardeau in Great Falls and they spent 50 wonderful years together until Bernice’s passing in 2001.

Gordon began a career in the finance business at Western Credit Company in Great Falls. He worked there nearly 48 years until his retirement in 1993.

Gordon’s greatest enjoyment in life was being in the great Montana outdoors. He loved fishing, hunting, camping and boating. He also loved dancing, having a good time and spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a member of the Moose Lodge, Eagles, VFW and was a lifetime member of the Great Falls Elks Lodge.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, brothers, Frank and Stan, and grandchildren Autumn and Ross Bartholomew.

Survivors include sons Doug (Lee Ann) of Kalispell, Jack (Sarah) of Bozeman, and daughter Kim (Roger) Bartholomew of Kennewick, Washington. Grandchildren include Ryan (Jodi) Wardinsky of The Woodlands, Texas, Carissa (Chris) Haas of Bozeman, Kristin (Philip) Heron of Pinole, California, Dusty (Lacey) Wardinsky of Belgrade, Sunny Bartholomew of Snead’s Ferry, North Carolina, Cynthia Bartholomew of Kennewick and nine great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Gordon’s name to the Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation, 351 Evergreen Drive, Suite A, Bozeman, MT 59715; Shriners Hospitals for Children, Attn: Office of Development, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607; or to a charity of your choice.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on May 4 at O’Connor Funeral Home in Great Falls.

Friends are encouraged to visit the website www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.