James Meredith Gentry 1945-1981

GENTRY, STRANG, OLSZEWKI, SUNDE

Posted By: Sharon K Hesebeck (email)
Date: 1/8/2023 at 15:14:09

Services for James Meredith Gentry, 35, of Elgin, Illinois and formerly of Emmetsburg and Spirit Lake, will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. Father G.F. Lyon will officiate with burial in Lone Tree Cemetery in Everly
Daniel Kepler, Don Bonney, Dean Strang, Rodney Mayou, Doug Jipson and Larry Rod Strang will serve as casket bearers
Gentry, the son of James and Mildred (Strang) Gentry, was born June 26, 1945 in Laredo, Texas. After graduating from Spirit Lake High School in 1963, he attended Iowa Lakes Community College. A professional musician since high school, he belonged to several musical groups, including his own band, "The Jay Gentry Show"
A resident of Elgin, Illinois, since 1972, where he moved after living in Emmetsburg and Spirit Lake. Gentry was employed as a laboratory supervisor for Revcor, Inc. in Elgin. He was a member of St Thomas More Catholic Church in Elgin, where he had been the choir director. Gentry was also a member of the American Federation of Musicians.
He married Nona Wendella (Wendy) Olszewski on February 28, 1981 in Spencer
Gentry died Thursday at St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin following a long illness
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Meredith Therese, Milissa and Margaret, all living with their mother, Jill Gentry In Elgin; one step daughter, Monica Olszewski of Elgin; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Gentry of Spencer; two brothers, Stephen of Estherville and Mark of Arvada, Colorado; one sister, Mrs. Margaret Sunde of Estherville; and his grandmother, Mrs. Florence Gentry of Anaheim, California
The Warner Funeral Home is in charge of the service arrangements
Spencer Daily Reporter, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa, March 20, 1981