Category: Gardner

FREE Church of Hope Community Vacation Bible School The Church of Hope in Gardner is once again offering FREE VBS, June 15-19, 2026 from 1:00-3:00pm. Please note the time change to afternoon. We would like to invite all children ages…

GSWB Baseball Camp Open to boys entering 5th-8th grade at Gardner, Braceville, South Wilmington, MVK, and Dwight.

Gardner Area Band Returns Home After Memorable New Orleans Tour The Gardner Area Band recently returned from an unforgettable four-day trip to New Orleans, where students combined musical performance, cultural exploration, and educational experiences in one of America’s most historic…

The GSW varsity defeated Dwight by a score of 7-0 in the Regopnal playoff game. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Dwight 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 GSW 0 4 2…

GARDNER SOUTH WILMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL BAND DIRECTOR MICHAEL LEONE NAMED QUARTERFINALIST FOR 2026 MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD PRESENTED BY THE RECORDING ACADEMY AND GRAMMY MUSEUM   Gardner South Wilmington High School Band Director Michael Leone has been named a quarterfinalist for…

  May 9 The Tigers finished the season strong at the LaSalle Peru 16 team Sectional.  Led by our 8th graders, who all season long demonstrated fierce determination and sportsmanship, pushed the Tigers to finish with several PR’s despite the wind.  The…

Tiger P.R.I.D.E stands for Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dependability, and Empathy.  Classroom teachers choose one student per month who displays these characteristics and is seen as an outstanding student.  It is a great accomplishment, and we are all so very proud of them.  Congratulations to Gardner…

The Gardner Area Band, under the direction of Mr. Michael Leone, is proud to announce its upcoming performance at the prestigious National Festival of the States in New Orleans, Louisanna.  The ensemble will take the stage on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 3:00…

Gardner, Illinois, feels a little quieter today. On Monday, March 16, 2026, David Stuart Nelson, 83, passed away peacefully at home—the very house he grew up in. Born in Streator in 1942 to Bernard Christian Nelson and Enola (Cumming) Nelson,…

Tiger P.R.I.D.E stands for Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dependability, and Empathy.  Classroom teachers choose one student per month who displays these characteristics and is seen as an outstanding student.  It is a great accomplishment, and we are all so very proud of them.  Congratulations to Gardner…

Congratulations to the following four Juniors who represented GSW High School at the Grundy County Corn Festival Queen Ceremony.  Pictured left to right:  Olivia Siano, Abby Galass, Abigail Olsen and Tessa Rankovich.  Tessa Rankovich won Queen for GSW and was…

Sept 17 – Regional Championship @ Joliet St. Raymond Joliet St. Raymond 4 vs GSWB 1 Playing in their 5th straight regional title, the Lions had a tough opponent in St. Ray’s.  With 2 outs in the 1st, St. Ray’s…

Kevin E. Fogarty, 67,  of Gardner, passed away peacefully on August 3, 2025, at his home in Gardner, following a series of recent medical issues. A memorial visitation will be held from 2:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. on Friday, August…

Gardner Area Band Wins Big at Music in the Parks Competition The Gardner Area Band recently traveled to Beach Park, Illinois, to compete in the prestigious Music In The Parks Concert Band competition and returned home with top honors. The…

Congratulations to GSW High School Salutatorian Ryleigh Dvorak and Valedictorian Kendall Huston.   Gardner-South Wilmington High School held their Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony on Sunday, May 18 at 12 noon.  Salutatorian was Ryleigh Dvorak, daughter of Nicole Dvorak of Gardner…

Discover the Wonders of Agriculture at the GAVC Ag Open House   On Wednesday, May 21st from 1 – 5 p.m., join the Grundy Area Vocational Center (GAVC) Ag students for an immersive agricultural experience at their Open House event! …

GSW STUDENTS OF THE MONTH! Patrick Phillips, Sophomore in the GSW was nominated by three staff members who recognized how his acts of service and kindness impacted out school in a positive way! He enjoys fishing, bowling, interested in fitness,…

Daniel Bell, 87, of Gardner, Illinois, completed his life’s journey here on earth on his birthday, March 4, in Joliet. Born March 4, 1938, in Eureka, Illinois, Daniel was the son of Basil E. and Ruth Corrinne (Diehl) Bell. He…

Gardner Area Band Invited to Perform at National Festival of the States in New Orleans, 2026 The Gardner Area Band, under the direction of Mr. Michael Leone, is proud to announce an exciting opportunity for its students to perform at…

Kurt L. Mathes, 81 of Gardner, Illinois, formerly of Tuscola, Illinois, died Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at Morris Hospital. Born December 14, 1943 in Cleveland, Ohio, Kurt was the son of Walter Mathes, Jr. and Gladys (Nicholl) Mathes. He was…

Helen Louise Hileman, 78, a lifelong resident of Gardner, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 28, 2024, at Lightways Hospice Home in Joliet, Illinois, surrounded by her loving family. Born on August 21, 1946, in Morris, Illinois, Helen was…

Kevin J. Kociss, 69 of Gardner, Illinois, died Tuesday, November 19, 2024 in Morris, Illinois. Born January 9, 1955 in Morris, Kevin John was a son of John and Marilyn (Hansen) Kociss. He was raised and educated in Gardner and…

The Dwight GSW varsity football team hosted Elmwood Brimfield for the 2nd round of the IHSA 2A football playoffs on Saturday, November 9. It was a defensive battle with neither side giving up much, but the Trojans were able to…

Dixie Lee Renner age 86, of Godley, IL passed away on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at the ARC of Dwight.  Born on September 10, 1938 in Joliet Township, IL to John C. and Evelyn Eldora (nee Dickson) Renner.  She graduated…

Michael Harry Wollgast, 43, of Sanford, North Carolina passed away peacefully at home on September 10, 2024. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 17 from 9-11 am, with Mass following, at  St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 165 E. Rice Road,…

Raymond Louis Serena, 85, passed away on July 2, 2024, in Joliet, IL. Born on September 7th, 1938, in South Wilmington, IL, he was a member of Saint Lawrence Catholic Church. Ray is survived by his wife Mary Lou, children;…

Duane M. Lewis, age 80, of Gardner, IL passed away Wednesday, July 3, 2024 at Lightways Hospice Home in Joliet, IL.  Born on February 12, 1944 to Henry and Lorretta (nee Coss) Lewis.  On June 1, 1963 he married Donna…

Dwight baseball coach Jerry McDowell picked up win number 600 after the Dwight Trojans defeated Streator Woodland  8–5 .  McDowell is pictured here with longtime friend / coach Brett Lardi. Jerry McDowell (right) and Brett Lardi.

Unetta Jirus Age 96 of East Brooklyn, Illinois passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at The ARC of Dwight. Born on March 23, 1928, Unetta Marie was a daughter of Richard and Marie (Wood) Golding. She spent her…

Photo by Shayla Loring Photography

  Photo by Shayla Loring Photography.

Congratulations to the Gardner – South Wilmington High School 2024 Homecoming King and Queen: Sam Tramutolo & Ava Brassard.  Sam is the son of Steve and Andrea Tramutolo of South Wilmington and Ava is the daughter of Mike and Alicia Brassard…

Barbara Jean (Hillman) Brooks, age 82 of Gardner, Illinois, passed away peacefully on January 3, 2024 in Dwight, Illinois. Born on September 3, 1941, Barbara was a daughter of Eugene and Maxine (Christensen) Hillman. Barbara was raised in rural Gardner….

Floyd “David” Leenerman, age 78 of Gardner, Illinois died Wednesday, January 03, 2024, at the ARC of Streator. Born January 19, 1945 in Fairbury, Illinois Floyd David was a son of Floyd Rudolph and Mary (Billingsley) Leenerman. He was raised…

Barbara Jean Bryant, 83, of Gardner, IL, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 27, 2023 at Desert Hills Memory Care Center in Hemet, CA. She was the daughter of the late Harold and Ethel Yenson born on September…