Howard W. Gentz
April 12, 1936 — December 17, 2020
Howard Gentz, 84, of Manchester, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, December 17, 2020, at the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics in Iowa City. Private family visitation and service for Howard will be held Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Manchester, by Allan Christopherson. Private family burial will be held at Oakland Cemetery, Manchester. A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website tribute page for Howard, under "photos and videos or media", starting at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. All guests are respectfully required to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Howard was born on April 12, 1936, to Elmer and Olive (Holthaus) Gentz. He was raised on a farm north of Earlville, Iowa. On November 16, 1955, he was united in marriage to Ruth Studnicka in her country farm home by Muscoda, Wisconsin. After their marriage they lived on a farm north of Colesburg, Iowa. To this union three children were born, Kevin, Jerilyn and Randy. They later moved to Howard’s family home farm, where they farmed for many years. Howard and Ruth built a new home on an adjacent farm and son Randy and his wife Sherri lived on the family farm. They sold the family farm, but continued farming for a few more years. Howard and Ruth decided to retire and move closer to Manchester. In 2009 bought a lot on Fawn Trail north of Manchester. Son Randy built it and son-in-law Dale Walvatne did the wiring.
Howard and Ruth resided there till he was called home to Glory on December 17, 2020. Howard accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior during the night of May 26, 1964. He had many verses written down that spoke to him. II Corinthians, 4:3 –“If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.”
Jonah 2:9 – “Salvation is of the Lord.” Romans 3: “Terrible things about man.” Romans 3:4 – “Let God be true and every man a liar.” Howard received his assurance while reading John 19:30 – “It is finished.” He also had written down a verse from a hymn from the Believers Hymn Book #238 verse 3.
“All my sins were laid upon him, Jesus bore them on the tree, and God who knew them laid them on him and believing thou art free.” Howard was in the Manchester Gospel Hall Assembly for many years and was an elder.
Howard is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruth of Manchester; son, Kevin (Connie) Gentz of Colesburg, Iowa; daughter, Jerilyn (Dale) Walvatne of Hawkeye; son, Randy (Sherri) Gentz of Manchester; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; sister, Jean Dempster of Cedar Falls, Iowa; brother-in-law, Gary Chitwood of Muscoda, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Olive Gentz; brother, Harlan Gentz; twin brother and sister, Martin and Marian in infancy; grandson, Andrew Gentz; nephews, Merlin Gentz, Jeff Chitwood, Bill Dempster; two nieces, Colette Swieter and Christine Recker; sister-in-law, Elaine Chitwood and brother-in-law, Arlin Dempster.
Condolences may be sent to the family at 16939 185th Street, Manchester, Iowa 52057.
Howard had the following part of a hymn written down on a piece of paper in his Bible.
Oh the love that sought me,
Oh the blood that bought me,
Oh the Grace that brought me to the fold,
Wondrous Grace that brought me to the fold
Please share a memory of Howard at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Howard was born on April 12, 1936, to Elmer and Olive (Holthaus) Gentz. He was raised on a farm north of Earlville, Iowa. On November 16, 1955, he was united in marriage to Ruth Studnicka in her country farm home by Muscoda, Wisconsin. After their marriage they lived on a farm north of Colesburg, Iowa. To this union three children were born, Kevin, Jerilyn and Randy. They later moved to Howard’s family home farm, where they farmed for many years. Howard and Ruth built a new home on an adjacent farm and son Randy and his wife Sherri lived on the family farm. They sold the family farm, but continued farming for a few more years. Howard and Ruth decided to retire and move closer to Manchester. In 2009 bought a lot on Fawn Trail north of Manchester. Son Randy built it and son-in-law Dale Walvatne did the wiring.
Howard and Ruth resided there till he was called home to Glory on December 17, 2020. Howard accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior during the night of May 26, 1964. He had many verses written down that spoke to him. II Corinthians, 4:3 –“If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.”
Jonah 2:9 – “Salvation is of the Lord.” Romans 3: “Terrible things about man.” Romans 3:4 – “Let God be true and every man a liar.” Howard received his assurance while reading John 19:30 – “It is finished.” He also had written down a verse from a hymn from the Believers Hymn Book #238 verse 3.
“All my sins were laid upon him, Jesus bore them on the tree, and God who knew them laid them on him and believing thou art free.” Howard was in the Manchester Gospel Hall Assembly for many years and was an elder.
Howard is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruth of Manchester; son, Kevin (Connie) Gentz of Colesburg, Iowa; daughter, Jerilyn (Dale) Walvatne of Hawkeye; son, Randy (Sherri) Gentz of Manchester; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; sister, Jean Dempster of Cedar Falls, Iowa; brother-in-law, Gary Chitwood of Muscoda, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Olive Gentz; brother, Harlan Gentz; twin brother and sister, Martin and Marian in infancy; grandson, Andrew Gentz; nephews, Merlin Gentz, Jeff Chitwood, Bill Dempster; two nieces, Colette Swieter and Christine Recker; sister-in-law, Elaine Chitwood and brother-in-law, Arlin Dempster.
Condolences may be sent to the family at 16939 185th Street, Manchester, Iowa 52057.
Howard had the following part of a hymn written down on a piece of paper in his Bible.
Oh the love that sought me,
Oh the blood that bought me,
Oh the Grace that brought me to the fold,
Wondrous Grace that brought me to the fold
Please share a memory of Howard at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Howard W. Gentz, please visit our flower store.