- Date Of Birth: July 31, 1922
- Date Of Death: October 10, 2021
- State: Illinois
Doris Elizabeth (Grant) Gentert, 99, of rural Lostant, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 10, 2021 at Heritage Healthcare Center in Peru.
Doris was born in rural Tonica on July 31, 1922 to Albert “Warren” and Clara Katherine (Weide) Grant. She attended Tonica Grade School and Tonica High School, graduating in 1940.
Doris worked at Westclox in Peru for three years before her marriage to Sergeant Thomas William Gentert of Lostant. The couple was married at the First United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 23, 1943 where Sergeant Gentert was stationed at the time.
Doris worked at a clothing factory assisting people with disabilities and in the Army PX’s at Salt Lake City, and later in Hastings, Nebraska, before Sergeant Gentert’s tour overseas. At the close of World War II, the young couple settled in rural Lostant to begin a farming career.
Doris was a co-partner in working on and managing their family farm until the past year. Her passion was providing hearty home cooked meals with her specialty in baking breads, pies and cakes. The hired man, the corn shelling crew and hay bailing helpers always enjoyed fresh baked goods during the work break.
Doris was often known to just bake something special and deliver it to a neighbor or friend. As a member of Lostant United Methodist Church, Doris was active in church fundraisers, auction bake sales, Harvest Home and the Soup and Sandwich Suppers hosted by Methodist Church Evening Circle.
Active in community service, she was a decades long member and officer of LaSalle County Home Extension, American Legion Post 173 Ladies Auxiliary and supporter of Lostant Lassies 4-H Club. Doris also enjoyed her Ladies’ Card Club, playing cards with her friends.
Doris is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Ron) Williams of Theodore, AL; her son, John Gentert of Lostant; her grandsons, Eric Johnson of Huntsville, AL, Lee Johnson of Princeville and Dale Johnson of Spanish Fort, AL; three great-grandchildren, Jared Johnson, Seth Johnson and Kortney Johnson and her sister, Irma Gallagher of Peru. She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Thomas; her parents and her brother, Wayne Russell Grant at age 12. Pallbearers will be her grandsons; nephew, Jim Gentert; close family friends, Dan Maack and Duane Foote and neighbors, Gary Lenhausen and Bobbie Dose
