Donald George Gentsch

DONALD GEORGE GENTSCH, 80 , of Chester, Illinois, passed from this life to his heavenly home at 12:27 pm, Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at Memorial Hospital in Chester, Illinois. 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, Illinois. 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 fourteen 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

1 Son:                    Michael (Lisa) Gentsch                          Hecker, IL

3 Daughters           Vicki Gentsch                                        Atlanta, GA

Beth (Keith) Logan                                Franklin, TN

Jill (Lt. Col. Terry) Koester                    Hawaii

4 Grandsons:         Lt. Col. Chuck (Michelle) Durham        Japan

SSgt. Matthew Durham                         South Carolina

James Durham                                        Atlanta, GA

Ryan (Jennifer) Gentsch                        St. Louis, MO

7 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

6 Great-Grandchildren: Thomas, Lucas, Noah, Tripp, Reagan, and Grey

Preceded in death by :  Parents, 1 Brother and Sister-in-law: Herbert and Marge Gentsch

Funeral Service: 10:00 am, Saturday, July 9, 2016

St. John Lutheran Church

Chester, Illinois

Officiating: Rev. Tim Landskroener

Interment: St. John Lutheran Cemetery

Chester, Illinois

Visitation: Friday - 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Pechacek-McClure Funeral Home, Chester, Illinois

Saturday - 9:00 am – 10:00 am

St. John Lutheran Church, Chester, Illinois

Memorials: Trinity Hope (A feeding school program for children in Haiti)

St. John Debt Fund