Ronald "Sam" Garard

Ronald “Sam” Garard, age 60, of Oregon, Ohio,  passed away, from a lengthy, complicated illness, on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio. 

 Sam was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, on April 4, 1961, to Ronald and Virginia (Ray) Garard, but graduated  from Shadow Mountain High School, in Arizona, before serving our country in the US Air Force. He worked as a lifelong OTR truck driver and was an avid Ohio State Buckeye and Denver Broncos football fan. Sam loved music. He was a drummer in a band, alongside his Uncle, Darrell Ray, and friend, Tom Lawson.  He also enjoyed spending time at the casino.

He was always ready for a Family vacation, pool parties, cookouts, Cedar Point and anything else that could get turned into a family get-together.  He absolutely loved all of us as his own…..   Sam never looked at us as a blended family, established in 2012, from the very first time he met us, we were His Family….  He finally had kids and grandkids!  He said he finally had the family he always wanted.

Introduced to the trucking life, by his friend and business partner, Joe, Sam drove his own rig for many years!  Most recently, he was employed as a driver for CPC Logistics, out of Perrysburg, Ohio, hauling freight for Walgreens Distribution Center, where he met Ricky, a new driver, who Sam quickly took under his wing.  

Sam is survived by his wife, Sandy; mother, Virginia; Children- Cyndi (John) Noegel, Jennifer (Jake) Pistilli, Joshua (Ashley) Swanson, Christopher (Kristi) Swanson and Jeremiah (Mallory) Swanson; Grandchildren -Johnny, Hayden, Tyler and Ethan Noegel;   Isaiah, Izabella, Gunner, Willow and Iris Swanson;   Carter and Caleb Swanson;  Hunter, Ryder, Laken, Oaklynne and Roselynne Swanson;  as well as his beloved dogs, Layla and Lilly; sister Jackie (Love) Owens; Children- Joey and Olivia Gempa Grandchild- Emily Kay and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his father Ronald, brother Joe and his grandparents. 

Our family would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Kerri Simo and her staff at Toledo Hospital, as well as the Doctors and Nurses at the Detroit Avenue location of Hospice of Northwest Ohio.  We also hope this reaches the many caregivers that have came into the lives of Sam and Sandy, during his complicated  battle with Renal Cancer. Thank You All!

Friends may visit Freck Funeral Chapel 1155 S. Wynn Rd. in Oregon, Ohio on Friday January 14, 2022 from 2 until 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held in the chapel on Saturday at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Ottawa Hills Memorial Park. Memorial contributions can be made to the family, to help with funeral expenses.

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