Lois Helen Gentsch, nee Jones, 94, of Belleville, IL, born October 13, 1930, in Belleville, IL, departed this world peacefully on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at her residence.
Lois graduated from Belleville Township High School in 1948. She married Robert L. “Bob” Gentsch on May 20, 1950. Soon after they were wed, Bob was drafted into the Navy. Lois followed Bob to duty stations in New Jersey and California which deepened her affection for her hometown, family, and friends.
Lois worked off and on, frequently as an administrative assistant at Scott Air Force Base, forming many lasting friendships and utilizing her superb typing and shorthand skills. Lois was trained as a travel agent in the 70's and worked for several years for Dixon Travel in downtown Belleville. Later she managed Accent Travel Agency in Belleville for many fun and productive years. As a beneficiary of "familiarization trips" Lois became a world traveler and in later years she and Bob frequently traveled together to far-flung world destinations.
Active in civic and non-profit associations, Lois was a loyal and supportive member of the Belleville Junior Women's Club and served as the organization's president. Following in her mother's footsteps, Lois volunteered at Memorial Hospital in Belleville for 25 years, mostly in outpatient surgery, but also serving as the hospital auxiliary president and editor of their newsletter for many years. Lois also invested in church activities at St. Mark Lutheran Church, especially singing in the choir. Lois was a conscientious and contributing member of PEO. Few things gave Lois more pleasure than her bridge clubs. An accomplished and enthusiastic player, she cherished the company more than the cards. The only thing that took precedence over a Cardinal baseball game on television was Jeopardy until she learned to record her favorite game show.
Lois was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Louis Gentsch; her parents, Paul A. and Irene M., nee Lund, Jones; her brother, Paul H. Jones; her sister-in-law, Lillian E. Jones; and brother-in-law, Dr. Kenneth W. Gentsch.
Lois is survived by her two sons, Craig R. (Michelle) Gentsch, of Buchanan Dam, TX, and Dr. Bryan J. (Denise) Gentsch, of Goldthwaite, TX; a granddaughter, Kayla (Brandon) Stafford of Wichita, KS; a grandson, Tai Robert Wesley Gentsch of Goldthwaite, TX; a sister-in-law, Connie Gentsch of Kansas City, MO; two nephews, Jeff (Mary) Gentsch of St. Louis, MO and Paul D. (Susan) Jones of Belleville, IL; three nieces, Debra (Ron) Johnson of Lancaster, OH, Lisa (Doug) Tapp of Leawood, KS, and Sharon (Jon) Adamson of Fairview Heights, IL; and three great-grandchildren, Adalyn, Zeke, and Sophie Stafford of Wichita, KS.
Memorials may be made to St. Mark Lutheran Church, 105 East D Street, Belleville, IL 62220, or the BJC Foundation for Hospice, 2220 South State Route 157, Suite 300 Glen Carbon, Illinois 62034, or Home Instead, 2321 Country Road, Belleville, IL 62221. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, May 30, 2025, at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 30, 2025, at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Belleville, IL, with Rev. Brian Robison officiating.
Burial will be at Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, IL.
