Date of Birth:
Sunday, August 17, 1924
Date of Death:
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Age:
96 years old

Frances Willard Gentling

Frances W Gentling, age 96, of Rochester, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 at Homestead Memory Care.

She was born on August 17, 1924 (always celebrated on August 18^th) to Harry and Daisy (Lyman) Glover of Racine, MN, where she grew up on the Glover family farm 1 mile north of Racine and later graduated from Stewartville High School.

In 1945, Fran worked at the Kahler Hotel when her co-worker, Mary Gentling introduced Fran to her brother, Armand. Within a week he asked her to take a ride in his car. He was a handsome man with a great smile and he loved to dance (and that ‘sealed the deal’). She married Armand on June 1, 1946 at St Francis Catholic Church in Rochester.

They lived in Rochester for 32 years before moving out to Cedar Beach on Lake Zumbro in 1979.Then in 2006 they moved to The Greens Townhome Community in NW Rochester, where they lived until Armand passed away in 2012. Fran continued living there until 2017 and then became a resident of Homestead Assisted Living. They were also ‘snowbirds’ down in Mesa, AZ for 18 years (their “home away from home”) where they established many close friendships in Mesa Village and were involved in countless activities.

Fran and Armand had a marriage of true love and trust in each other. Together they raised 5 children, while running a successful business, Gentling’s Maico Hearing Aid Service in Rochester until Armand retired in 1989. They were members of St Pius Catholic Church where Fran was very active in the Women’s Rosary Society, Mardi Gras, Christmas Bazaars, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and a variety of church fundraisers. Fran’s faith was strong and her love of family was even stronger. As a homemaker, she was very devoted to her family and actively involved in the kid’s school events and sports activities.

She enjoyed dancing to ‘Big Band’ music, singing, golfing (whether in the Ladies League at Willow Creek or the Desert Rats in AZ) , playing bridge, sewing, swimnastics (leader of the group at Mesa Village), gardening, and later on in life playing piano at Homestead (for her family). Fran had a positive attitude about most things and she was very grateful for all the blessings in her life. She always felt extra special while dancing with Armand. We can only imagine them now dancing together again.

Those left to cherish her memory are her five children: Steven (Susan) Gentling of Guthrie, OK, Richard (Kathy) Gentling of Oronoco, MN, Julie (Bob) Kalar of Tucson, AZ, Barbara (Kevin) Truax of Rochester, and Anne (Steve) Maley of Oronoco. Her grandchildren include: Dr Todd Gentling of Broken Arrow, OK, Kara (Michael Sloat) of Bixby, OK, Tiffany (Bill) Kinser of Edmond, OK, Jason Liebenow of Hayfield, MN, Brandon (Halie) Liebenow of Rochester, MN, Justin (Stacy) Liebenow of Zumbrota, MN, Jesse (Stacy) Gentling of Edmond, OK, Joshua (Jessica) Gentling of Eagle Lake, MN, Nickolas (Rachel) Maley of Northfield, MN, Christina Maley of Humbird, WI, Tyler (Amber) Maley of Rollingstone, MN, Ryan and Kristofer Truax of Rochester, MN. There are also 20 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Fran’s surviving siblings include: Wes Glover of Rochester, MN and Marge Koch of Walker, MN.

Frances is preceded in death by her husband Armand; her parents; brother, Franklin ‘Buddy’ Glover, and sisters: Harriet Sullivan and Marian Johnson.

A special thanks to the staff at Homestead Assisted Living/Memory Care and Mayo Hospice for the wonderful care and attention they have given Frances these last 3 1/2 years.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 29th at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Rochester with Rev. Thomas Loomis officiating.  A visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. An outdoor reception will follow at Essex Park. Please wear masks and maintain social distancing at the church and park. We know Fran will be with us in spirit because she always enjoyed a social gathering. A private family interment will be at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Online condolences and memories of Frances are welcome through Macken Funeral Home at www.mackenfuneralhome.com, or cards may be mailed directly to the family in care of Rick Gentling. The family requests contributions made in Fran Gentling’s name to St. Vincent de Paul (that give to the needy locally), associated with Holy Spirit Catholic Church.