Harold LeRoy Gardner, 72, of Bourbonnais, Illinois, was called to meet the Savior whom he had so passionately dedicated his life to serve on May 29, 2013. LeRoy, or "Lee", was born at the family home in Pine River, Minn., the seventh of nine children born to Clifford and Frances Gardner. After graduating high school LeRoy graduated from Toledo meat cutting school and began a 20 year career in which he would become a journeyman meat cutter. In the spring of 1961 young LeRoy met the love of his life, Sharon O'Brien, and the two committed their lives to each other on November 4, 1961. After attending Oak Hills Bible College in Bemidji, Minn. for a time, LeRoy felt the Lord calling him into full time Christian ministry, so in the summer of 1976 he left his meat cutting position in Grand Rapids, Minn. and moved to Pambrun, Saskatchewan, Canada where he attended Millar College of the Bible for two years. After leaving Millar, LeRoy began another nearly 20 year career as a pastor. Employed with Village Missions for 19 years, LeRoy pastored five churches throughout the western United States. This gave him the opportunity to use his meat cutting skills in various places as well as learning new skills such as driving chemical trucks for an ag company, being a "€˜cookie' for real cattle drives, as well as using his God given gifts for helping people in need where ever he served. After LeRoy's and Sharon's children were out of the home, LeRoy embarked on a third career with the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry in December of 1999. LeRoy and Sharon traveled throughout a 12 state region sharing the love of Christ and their passion for God's chosen people. LeRoy was preceded in death by a son, Jeff; his parents; a brother, Clifford; and a sister, Charlotte Connell. Surviving family includes his wife, Sharon; three children, Kevin, Cindy (Darwin) Davies, and Philip (Tali); nine grandchildren, Eian, Natalie, Caleb, James, Alicia, Melane, Brandon, Curtis, Shaleace; two brothers, Bill (Phyllis) and Keith; and four sisters, Ramona (Al) Hann, Darlene (Dwight) Johnson, LaVonne (John) Hurst and Caroline Gardner.