Obituary for Donald George Gentsch
DONALD GEORGE GENTSCH, 80, of Chester, Illinois, passed from this life to his heavenly home at <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">12:27 p.m.</span></span>, Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at Memorial Hospital in Chester.
His family was with him.
He was born to the late William H. and Alma J (nee Bewie) Gentsch on September 30, 1935 in Chester. He was baptized at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chester on October 20, 1935.
He attended St. John Lutheran School and was confirmed and graduated in 1949 in the hundredth year class.
Donald attended Chester High School and graduated in 1953. He served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956. He served in Germany for 14 months.
He worked for the Department of Corrections as a record office supervisor for 31 years and was a school bus driver for 18 years.
He served at St. John's as an usher for 57 years and was on the school board for 13 years. He served as an elder and was also a trustee.
He coached Little League and worked with the Boy Scouts. He was a member of the Illinois Police Association and an avid woodworker.
Donald was joined in marriage to Alma Darlene Armes in 1957. This union was blessed with three daughters: Vicki, Beth, and Jill and one son, Michael.
Survivors - wife Darlene Gentsch, Chester, IL; one son Michael (Lisa) Gentsch, Hecker, IL; three daughters Vicki Gentsch, Atlanta, GA, Beth (Keith) Logan, Franklin, TN, Jill (Lt. Col. Terry) Koester, Hawaii; four grandsons Lt. Col. Chuck (Michelle) Durham, Japan, SSgt. Matthew Durham, South Carolina, James Durham, Atlanta, GA, Ryan (Jennifer) Gentsch, St. Louis, MO; seven granddaughters Danielle (Frank) Supancic, Hecker, IL, Jennifer (Joseph) Kiefer, St. Charles, MO, Lauren Gentsch, Hecker, IL, Kyra Logan, Houston, TX, Brenna Logan, Franklin, TN, Samantha Koester, Hawaii, Justine Koester, Hawaii; six great-grandchildren Thomas, Lucas, Noah, Tripp, Reagan, and Grey.
Preceded in death by - Parents, one brother and sister-in-law: Herbert and Marge Gentsch
Funeral Service - <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">10 a.m. </span></span><span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">Saturday, July 9, 2016</span></span> at St. John Lutheran Church, Chester, with Rev. Tim Landskroener, officiating.
Interment - St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Chester, Illinois.
Visitation - <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">Friday</span></span> - <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">5 p.m. - 8 p.m.</span></span> at Pechacek-McClure Funeral Home, Chester, and <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">Saturday</span></span> - <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">9 a.m. - 10 a.m.</span></span> at St. John Lutheran Church, Chester.
Memorials - Trinity Hope (A feeding school program for children in Haiti), St. John Debt Fund.
To view this obituary and sign the register book visit www.pmfh.net