Ryan L. Gardner

Ryan Lee Gardner was born to Russell and Joan Gardner on July 11, 1962. He departed this life on  November 17, 2022, at the age of 60 from cancer at the home. He was preceded in death by his son  Adam Holmgren and father, Russell Gardner. He is survived by his wife Phyllis Gardner, son Leroy  Holmgren, grandson Mark Holmgren, granddaughter Reagan Holmgren, brother Rusty Gardner, and  sisters Kelly Lasswell (Scot), Pam Grace (Tim) and Nancy Gardner.  

Ryan took the world by storm when he was born in the back of an ambulance, delivered by his  father. He blazed his own unique trail throughout his life. He attended Weaubleau School District and  Appleton City High School. He met Phyllis while in high school and was proud to drive her around on the  weekends in his red 1963 1/2 Ford Galaxie. He married her on Sept 3, 1983 at the age of 21. She not  only joined his beloved family, he also joined hers. This marriage was a true love story, enduring fires  that sometimes left scars. God knew how much they would need each other. 

After high school, Ryan and Phyllis moved to De Beque, CO where he worked the pipeline. They then  moved to Chickasha, OK where Ryan began his career as a heavy equipment operator. He returned to  the Kansas City area and joined the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 101 for the next 38  years of his career, living in Kansas City before finally moving to Lone Jack where he became a beloved  community member. It was here that they welcomed Leroy and Adam into their home. He loved auto  racing, playing his drums, pestering his kids and was well known for making up impromptu rhymes for  everyone’s unexpected entertainment. In later years he would be seen terrorizing the neighborhood in  his golf cart, which always had a set of golf clubs although he did not golf. There was always laughter  when in Ryan’s presence. 

Ryan was a man of God. He made Jesus his Lord and Savior at a young age and this relationship became  a driving force in his life. He often asked strangers if they knew Jesus, and without hesitation invited  them to church. The waitresses at the local cafe joined him to pray a blessing over his meal after serving  it. He introduced many people to God. At the encouragement of his pastor, he finally answered his  calling to be a minister by forming what became known as Kids’ Klub and helped guide hundreds of kids  to the Lord. On Wednesday evenings, he could be found teaching these children about the love of Jesus  Christ in the “funnest way possible”. He watched these children grow from preschool age to high school  and beyond. He was an active church and community member, playing drums with Praise Band at Hope  United Methodist Church, volunteering for the local Civic Club, and serving as a Lone Jack City Council  Alderman. His goal each day was to be a better person than he was the day before. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Ronald McDonald House or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and may be sent in care of Dickey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 432, Harrisonville, Missouri.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hope United Methodist Church, Lone Jack, Missouri.  

The family will receive friends Wednesday, November 23, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at the church.

Graveside service will be held Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. in the Saint Ludger Cemetery, Germantown, Missouri.