George "Butch" Gardner passed away on November 16, 2024, at the age of 63. Services will be held on Monday, November 25, at Passantino Bros. Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. followed by a Memorial Service at 7:00 p.m.

Butch was born July 12, 1961, in the East Bottoms of Kansas City, where he lived until the day he died. That was very important to him. He attended Martin Grade School and graduated from Northeast High School in 1979. During a public school strike in 1975 he met the love of his life at her Catholic school, Elizabeth Spero. It was love at first sight and they married in 1981. They were married for 39 years.

Butch  or "Cuz" as  he was commonly known, worked for UPS for 29 years where he became a union steward. He later was elected as vice-president of Teamsters Local 41 and served a 4-year term. He took pride in helping his fellow union brothers and sisters and they could and would  call him anytime day and night. Butch enjoyed working on cars, going to the Casinos, and coaching any sport at any age group - basketball, baseball, football - and the kids still remember him to this day and have nothing but great memories of their time with him. But the most enjoyable thing to Butch was spending time with his family, especially his grand-babies.

Butch is survived by Elizabeth Gardner, to whom he was married for 39 years; his children: the oldest son George "Butch" Gardner (Debra), his daughter-in-law Autumn Gardner, his only daughter Alexandria LaPietra (Rob), and his youngest son Nicholas Gardner (Jill); his beautiful grandkids: George Knives Gardner, Giovanni LaPietra, Wren Marrie Gardner, Vigo Paul LaPietra, Ophelia LaPietra; his brother Randy Gardner; his sister Verna Rice; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Honorary Pallbearers: Butch Gardner, Nick Gardner, Rob LaPietra, George Knives Gardner, Giovanni LaPietra, John Rice, Juan Rodriguez.

Condolences may be offered at www.passantinobros. com