Rodney Garden

FUNERAL SERVICES : 11:00 A.M. on Monday, September 24, 2012 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids, MN with Pastor Sara Jensen officiating.VISITATION : 3-6:00 P.M. on Sunday, September 23, 2012 at Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.INTERMENT : Bethel Cemetery, Park Rapids, MNSURVIVORS : His wife, Judy of Park Rapids; his three children: Ryan (Mollie) Garden of St. Cloud; Val (TJ) Horsager of Inver Grove Heights, MN and Jonell (Jay) Richards of Callaway, MN; his ten dearly loved grandchildren: Madeline, Reagan, Ripley and Claire Garden of St. Cloud; Grant and Garrett Horsager of Inver Grove Heights; and Jake, Jon, Jack and Jens Richards of Callaway; his sister, Audrey (Jim) Glick of Grand Forks, ND as well as two nieces: Kristin (Ron) Wilson of Bismarck, ND and Karla Fordham of Seattle, WA. RODNEY E. GARDENSeptember 5, 1942 " September 16, 2012 Rodney E. Garden, age 70, of Park Rapids, MN peacefully passed away Sunday morning, September 16, 2012 at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis with his loved ones at his side. Rod was born on September 5, 1942 in Ada, MN to Raymond and Norma (Haugen) Garden. It was in Gary, MN that he attended public school and grew into manhood. Rod was proud to be a "Gary Bulldog" where he quarterbacked the football team, played basketball, baseball, ran track and played trumpet in the band. He graduated from high school with the Class of 1960. Rod then went on to attend Moorhead State University where he earned his bachelors degree in 1964 and obtained his teaching certificate in Industrial Arts. On December 21, 1963, Rod was united in marriage to Judy Gunnufson, of Twin Valley, MN. Rodney and Judy were blessed with a son, Ryan and two daughters: Val and Jonell. Rodney"s first teaching job was in Hinckley, MN where he taught school from 1964 to 1968 and began his 33 year long career as an Industrial Arts teacher. In 1968, The Garden"s moved to Park Rapids where Rod taught for another 30 years in both the middle and high school. Rod incorporated numerous skills as part of his industrial arts program. He taught woodworking, metalworking, photography, small engine mechanics, plastics, fiberglass, drafting, graphic arts and printing. In addition, Rod also printed the programs and other items for the Park Rapids Panthers and school district for many years. He loved the outdoors and looked forward to the times he could spend with his family and friends hunting and fishing. He especially enjoyed the times he shared with family at their cabin on South Twin Lake near Nay-Tah-Waush, east of Mahnomen, MN where Rod enjoyed his pontoon, campfires and operating his John Deere tractors. He enjoyed time spent with his ten grandchildren and following their school activities. Win or lose, he was a loyal MN Twins and Vikings fan. Rod was a member of the Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids and also the Sons of Norway. Rod bravely fought a battle against polycystic kidney disease which impacted his life. In 1998 he was given a life extending gift of love from family friend, Jodi Anderson, who donated a kidney to Rod, a gift for which Rod and his family will be eternally grateful. Rodney will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 48 years, Judy of Park Rapids; his three children: Ryan (Mollie) Garden of St. Cloud; Val (TJ) Horsager of Inver Grove Heights, MN and Jonell (Jay) Richards of Callaway, MN; his ten dearly loved grandchildren: Madeline, Reagan, Ripley and Claire Garden of St. Cloud; Grant and Garrett Horsager of Inver Grove Heights; and Jake, Jon, Jack and Jens Richards of Callaway; his sister, Audrey (Jim) Glick of Grand Forks, ND as well as two nieces: Kristin (Ron) Wilson of Bismarck, ND and Karla Fordham of Seattle, WA; as well as other relatives and many friends. Rod was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, September 24, 2012 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids, MN with Pastor Sara Jensen officiating. The casketbearers will be: David Natwick, Leo Jacobson, Emmett Lingle, Itch Eberhart, Dick Carpenter, Jim Allen, Tim Moore and Pat Moore. The honorary casketbearers will be the Retired Faculty from the Park Rapids Area Schools and the Twin Lakes Coffee Group. Visitation will be held from 3:00 - 6:00 P.M. on Sunday, September 23, 2012 at Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Interment will be at the Bethel Cemetery near Park Rapids.**In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Polycystic Kidney Foundation (PKD)**