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Joan Gentry

Joan Gentry

GENTRY

Joan Gentry, 85, of Sparta, IL; born on November 11, 1936 in Tilden, IL; passed away on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at the Sparta Community Hospital in Sparta, IL.

Joan was a graduate from Sparta High School.  She enjoyed playing Bingo, crocheting and spending time with her family.  Babysitting her grandchildren was what made her happy.  Joan loved dancing, especially to her husband’s band, Jim Gentry and the Gents.

She was preceded in death by her husband – James M. Gentry; parents – Ralph and Eva (Hill) Firestone; son – Michael Gentry; two brothers – Charles “Sonny” Firestone and Jimmie Dale “Uncle Buddy” Firestone, Sr.

Joan is survived by her children – Debi (Gary) Klausing of Sparta, IL, James “Spinner” (Gina) Gentry of Sparta, IL, Lisa Gentry of Sparta, IL, Cindy Westerman of Sparta, IL, and Laurie (Neil) Westerman of Sparta, IL; ten grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; sister – Jean Murphy of St. Louis, MO.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.heilschuessler.com.

Family and friends may gather at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Sparta on Monday, January 10, 2022 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.  Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Steve Neill officiating.  Burial will take place at Caledonia Cemetery in Sparta, IL.

Heil-Schuessler & Sinn Funeral Home in Sparta, IL is in charge of arrangements

Share this...
  1. Thanking of all of you, so sorry for your loss

  2. Izzy & Liz says:

    Sorry for your loss What a good person. Many good times were had back in the day. Everybody take care.

  3. Bob & Janice Taylor says:

    We are so sorry for your loss. Joan was always friendly & kind. We will seeing her around town.

    • Cynthia Franklin-Jones says:

      My heart hurts to read about Joan’s passing. She was my Aunt Claudia Coles best friend and the mother of my classmate and friend Michael. She was a lovely warm women and I loved running into her in passing over the years. God bless your family. One day we will be with our parents again.

  4. Vicky Wilson says:

    So very sorry for the loss of your sweet mom. Sending love to your entire family.. You are all in my prayers.. I wish I had the words to ease your pain. She is in a better place watching over all of you and free of suffering 🙏❤️🙏

  5. Linda Boston says:

    To the family of Mrs. Joan Gentry. So sorry for the loss of your mom. Thinking of you all. God Bless your family.
    Sincerely,
    Linda Boston
    Quincy, IL

  6. Tom Hodge says:

    Wonderful lady now at home with God and Big Jim, no more pain, no more suffering, I will miss her.

  7. Gail Soderlund says:

    So very sorry for your loss. Joan was such a kind, loving person. My thoughts and prayers are with the whole family.

  8. George says:

    Sitting here trying to find the right words, I can’t

    ( BYE MOM I LOVE YOU )

  9. Sorry to hear about Joan and sorry for family!

  10. Stephanie Guidish Hughes says:

    Dear Gentry family, I am so sorry for your loss. Many prayers for you at this time.

    • Darla Loftus says:

      Gentry Family: So sorry for your loss! I spent many happy evenings listening to, dancing to, (and sometimes singing with) The Gents. Hugs, and prayers!

  11. Tim Hoefft says:

    Gentry Family…Sorry about the loss of your mother. I have many fond memories of our years being neighbors many years ago. God Bless!

    • Lisa Bailey says:

      Sending prayers and hugs to the Gentry Family. Joan was a good lady and very sweet. Fly high my friend no more pain, your time here on earth is done. Now relax and dance with your husband and family. Please watch over us all. We miss you already and always but never forgotten.

    • TAMMY JOHNSON says:

      Gentry family I am so sorry.I know words can not make it better but u honestly have my deepest sympathy!You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers

  12. LaDonna Laramore says:

    We are so very sorry to hear of Joan’s passing, sending our prayers and deepest condolences to you all.

  13. Linda Henderson says:

    Joan was a very special friend to me. Our friendship goes way back. I will always remember her and her husband Jim. The rest of her family is special too. My prayers are with all the family.

  14. Alan and Sharon Young says:

    We are so sorry to hear this.Joan was our neighbor for many years..Always very kind.

    • Donna Wetzel says:

      So sorry for your loss. I have many good memories of spending time on the porch visiting with your mom. Enjoyed being neighbor with your family.

    • Jean smith says:

      That makes me so sad. Hugs to all you kids.❤️

  15. Troy Cole says:

    I am so sorry for your loss! Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all. I know, personally, how much she meant to everyone. You all have my deepest condolences.

    • Jane Ann Robinson says:

      Joan was a wonderful person. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Heaven became a better place because she is there.

    • Perry Brooks says:

      She was a Very Sweet lady,she will be missed, we had some good Conversations during Chemo, she always made me laugh, Prayers for you all, much love to you all, God Bless you all

  16. Amy Beckley says:

    You are all in my thoughts and prayers!

  17. Hampton family says:

    Rest peacefully Aunt Joan. She will be missed. Sending our love to all the Gentry family.

  18. Martha Mezel says:

    So sorry for your loss! Prayers for you and your family! It’s so hard to loose someone! .Just talk about her a lot that will help!

  19. Jeanne Johnson says:

    My heart is with you, Deb. Loss of a mother is deep and painful. Celebrate the memories!

  20. Laura Lingle says:

    I am so sorry for your loss

    • Estella Denault says:

      I’m so sorry , I sure loved this woman. Her and my mother were such good friends sending my prayers and condolences to the family

    • Lorraine-Westerman Hepp says:

      I am so sorry for your loss Joan was a wonderful person, mother, grandmother, and servent of God. She will be sadly missed. Hugged me everytime i seen her. Gonna miss those hugs❤️

31 Comments

  1. I am so sorry for your loss

    Reply
    • I am so sorry for your loss Joan was a wonderful person, mother, grandmother, and servent of God. She will be sadly missed. Hugged me everytime i seen her. Gonna miss those hugs❤️

      Reply
    • I’m so sorry , I sure loved this woman. Her and my mother were such good friends sending my prayers and condolences to the family

      Reply
  2. My heart is with you, Deb. Loss of a mother is deep and painful. Celebrate the memories!

    Reply
  3. So sorry for your loss! Prayers for you and your family! It’s so hard to loose someone! .Just talk about her a lot that will help!

    Reply
  4. Rest peacefully Aunt Joan. She will be missed. Sending our love to all the Gentry family.

    Reply
  5. You are all in my thoughts and prayers!

    Reply
  6. I am so sorry for your loss! Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all. I know, personally, how much she meant to everyone. You all have my deepest condolences.

    Reply
    • She was a Very Sweet lady,she will be missed, we had some good Conversations during Chemo, she always made me laugh, Prayers for you all, much love to you all, God Bless you all

      Reply
    • Joan was a wonderful person. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Heaven became a better place because she is there.

      Reply
  7. We are so sorry to hear this.Joan was our neighbor for many years..Always very kind.

    Reply
    • That makes me so sad. Hugs to all you kids.❤️

      Reply
    • So sorry for your loss. I have many good memories of spending time on the porch visiting with your mom. Enjoyed being neighbor with your family.

      Reply
  8. Joan was a very special friend to me. Our friendship goes way back. I will always remember her and her husband Jim. The rest of her family is special too. My prayers are with all the family.

    Reply
  9. We are so very sorry to hear of Joan’s passing, sending our prayers and deepest condolences to you all.

    Reply
  10. Gentry Family…Sorry about the loss of your mother. I have many fond memories of our years being neighbors many years ago. God Bless!

    Reply
    • Gentry family I am so sorry.I know words can not make it better but u honestly have my deepest sympathy!You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers

      Reply
    • Sending prayers and hugs to the Gentry Family. Joan was a good lady and very sweet. Fly high my friend no more pain, your time here on earth is done. Now relax and dance with your husband and family. Please watch over us all. We miss you already and always but never forgotten.

      Reply
  11. Dear Gentry family, I am so sorry for your loss. Many prayers for you at this time.

    Reply
    • Gentry Family: So sorry for your loss! I spent many happy evenings listening to, dancing to, (and sometimes singing with) The Gents. Hugs, and prayers!

      Reply
  12. Sitting here trying to find the right words, I can’t

    ( BYE MOM I LOVE YOU )

    Reply
  13. So very sorry for your loss. Joan was such a kind, loving person. My thoughts and prayers are with the whole family.

    Reply
  14. Wonderful lady now at home with God and Big Jim, no more pain, no more suffering, I will miss her.

    Reply
  15. To the family of Mrs. Joan Gentry. So sorry for the loss of your mom. Thinking of you all. God Bless your family.
    Sincerely,
    Linda Boston
    Quincy, IL

    Reply
  16. So very sorry for the loss of your sweet mom. Sending love to your entire family.. You are all in my prayers.. I wish I had the words to ease your pain. She is in a better place watching over all of you and free of suffering 🙏❤️🙏

    Reply
  17. We are so sorry for your loss. Joan was always friendly & kind. We will seeing her around town.

    Reply
    • My heart hurts to read about Joan’s passing. She was my Aunt Claudia Coles best friend and the mother of my classmate and friend Michael. She was a lovely warm women and I loved running into her in passing over the years. God bless your family. One day we will be with our parents again.

      Reply
  18. Sorry for your loss What a good person. Many good times were had back in the day. Everybody take care.

    Reply

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