Gardner was twice married: his first wife, Millie, preceded him in death, and he was married to his second wife, Judy, at the time of his death. He had two children from his first marriage—son Dave II (deceased, 1999) married Leslie Tracy Gardner, and has one son, Justin David Gardner, grandson of Brother Dave Gardner and four great children, Madeline, Anna Grace, Ian, and Katherine. Brother Dave's daughter Candace Gardner Hare, married to Stan Hare and has two sons Jason & Alan Hare, the grandsons of Brother Dave Gardner and two great-grandsons Eelan & Aaron Hare fathered by Jason Hare.