Calvin Fred Gardinier, 84, of Union Grove, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at Hospice Alliance Hospice House in Pleasant Prairie. Born on September 8, 1932, in Somers, WI, he was the son of the late Samuel and Dora (Helding) Gardinier. He received his education in the schools of Somers and Kenosha, graduating from Mary D. Bradford High School in 1951. He attended the Racine-Kenosha Normal School in Union Grove, graduating in 1953. Calvin served in the United States Army from 1953 and 1956 spending 28 months in Germany. He then earned a degree in Mechanical Design from Gateway Technical College in 1970. He was employed by Tri-Clover, Inc. of Kenosha for 25 years, retiring in 1995. On December 22, 1956, he married Marjorie Christian in Kenosha. They lived there raising their four daughters. She proceeded him in death on April 4, 2003. Calvin was a member of the Somers United Christian Church of Christ. He joined the Masonic Order in 1973 and was an active member serving in all offices and was Master of the Kenosha Lodge in 1980, 1992, 2006, and 2007; he also served as their organist for 15 years. He was also a member at the Burlington and Union Grove Lodges. He enjoyed playing both organ and piano, being an avid genealogist, tracing his roots back to 1054, which he compiled into a book with many family photos. Between 1984 and 1986, he restored a 1911 Steam Tractor Engine used for historical threshing events. After the death of his wife, he took up writing and wrote a few books, some of which were published. These included Brothers of Stone, Trekking East and Beyond the Edge of the Sea, and A Long Way Back. Calvin is survived by his four daughters, Debbie (Ronald) Wendt, Beth Vela, Kris (Bill) Schmitz and Amy Gardinier; eight grandchildren, Amanda Kline, Adam (Sara) Hughes, Sara (Mark) Wendt, Rebecca (Nate) Caminiti, Brittany (Andrew) Belsky, Chase (Jaclynn) Vela, Brianna Vela and Robbyn Struck; ten great-grandchildren, Devon, Kailey, and Hannah Kline, Julianna Hughes, Autumn and Lillian Caminiti, Wyatt and Everett Belsky, and Clara and Riley Vela; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by eight siblings, Ruth Hansche, Margery Hubbard, Helen Thomas, and Doris, James, Edwin, William and David Gardinier. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 24th, at Proko Funeral Home at 11:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Somers. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 24th at the funeral home from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Hospice Alliance Hospice House would be appreciated by the family.Proko Funeral Home & Crematory5111-60th StreetKenosha, WI 53144Phone: (262) 654-3533Visit & Sign Calvin’s Online Memorial Book at:www.prokofuneralhome.com