- Date Of Birth: December 14, 1935
- Date Of Death: April 22, 2019
- State: Illinois
PEORIA – Gardner Norris Hatch passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice in Peoria, Ill. at the age of 83.
After graduation, he traveled to Peoria, Ill. in an old car and $30 in his pocket to start a trainee job at Caterpillar Tractor Co. It was in Peoria where he met and, in 1960, married Frances Wirth. Gardner enjoyed a 42-year career at Caterpillar, serving in various positions in sales development and marketing. His fulfilling career took him and his family around the world to Hong Kong and Geneva, Switzerland.
Gardner loved every day of his career, saying that happiness lies in finding a job that you love to do and getting paid for it.
Gardner is survived by his wife, Frances; his brother George (Helen) Hatch of Kings Mountain, N.C. and sister Cynthia (Dr. Steven) Brueck of Albuquerque, N.M.; his sons Gardner (Lori) Hatch Jr. of Cottage Grove, Minn., Marcus (Corina) Hatch of Shorewood, Ill., Christopher Hatch of Peoria, Ill. and Justin (Sophie) Thacker of Lausanne, Switzerland; daughter Jennifer Pietila of Oceanside, Calif.; and 11 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, and niece Marjorie Wicks of Lincoln, Nebr.
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff and excellent care he received at OSF St. Francis Medical Center and OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice.
