Notes:

Robert Gerald Gentzel
Robert Gerald Gentzel March 14, 1936 - April 2, 2010 Robert Gerald Gen
tzel, Loganton, took his final journey as he passed from our world
, a little before sunrise on Good Friday, April 2, 2010, at Geisinge
Medical Center, Danville, Mahoning Twp, Montour Co, PA. He was know
to most as "Gerald" and to his co-workers at Hammermill as "Thumper"
. Gerald was born in a small area of west Sugar Valley called Toughtow
, March 14, 1936, the son of the late George "Bill" and Helen Beck Ge
tzel. Preceded in death by one sister, Linda Gentzel Harer. He wa
s a member of the Trinity Methodist Church, Greenburr. On Oct., 1, 195
5, he married the love of his life, Vivian M. Douty, who survives at t
heir home they built together in Bull Run. Even after almost 55 year
s of marriage, as he knew his time to go was near, he told her of hi
s love for her and how beautiful he still thought she was. In 1957, th
ey gave birth to their first child, Rodney "String" Gentzel, who die
d on Aug. 23, 2008. As a child Gerald attended the one room school hou
se in Bull Run and frequently told of his childhood days full of box l
unch socials, baseball games and kissing girls. After graduating fro
m Sugar Valley High School in 1954, he joined the Army, stationed at F
ort Bragg, where he met one of his best friends, Charles Tindell, of W
aco, Texas. After serving his country, Gerald became employed by Hamme
mill Paper Co., working for 42 years and proudly joined forces with h
is Union brothers and sisters. On the picket line everyday, rain or sh
ine, during the strike of 1987, he performed along with his friend, th
e late Sam Eisenhower, at weekly rallies, playing guitar and singing f
or the strikers and their families until the strike was over. Gerald l
oved the outdoors and anything that had to do with it. A lifetime memb
er of the NRA, he trapped, hunted and fly fished, becoming Master of a
ll three throughout his life. As a hunter he loved to spend much of hi
s time in the woods and taught all three of his sons and two grandsons
, Tyler and Daniel Gentzel, the tricks of the craft. Over the course o
f his life, Gerald bagged more deer and more turkeys than 20 average h
unters did in all of their lives combined. Many came to him for advic
e on guns and reloading. As a trapper he would start his trapline earl
y in the fall every year and run it until spring, getting up early eve
y morning to go out in the cold crisp air to check his line that stre
tched miles and miles sometimes over two counties. He trapped everythi
g from opossums to coyotes and firmly believed in the vital role tha
t trapping plays in helping to conserve the future of local wildlife
. He was a lifetime member of the PA Trappers Assn. and for many year
s the Asst. Director of the District Seven chapter. Along with his wif
e Vivian, and his Grandson, Tyler, he ran a pest control business, tra
pping an array of critters in Clinton Co, most of them being skunks. A
s a fisherman, Gerald particularly loved fly fishing at Penns Creek, B
anty's Lane and Logan Mills. He and Vivian could be found many a day i
his later year sitting on lawn chairs fishing for crappies at Hunter
s Run at Blanchard Dam. Along with his love of the outdoors Gerald enj
oyed writing music, playing guitar and singing for his friends and fam
ily at many occasions including weddings, the Forest house, square-dan
ces and carnivals. He particularly loved old country songs and hymns
. Along with his wife, Robert Gerald Gentzel is survived by his childr
en, Bradley (Paula) Gentzel, of Loganton, Jeffrey Gentzel of Loganton
, and Amber (Roy) Morris, of Loganton; a special adopted daughter, Sus
an Johnson, of Pine Station, Wayne Twp, Clinton Co, PA, McElhattan, an
d a special adopted brother, Fred (Bonita) Brungart, of York; grandchi
ldren, Megan Gentzel, Tyler Gentzel, Daniel Gentzel, Sara Gentzel, Ewa
Morris and Gavin Morris; four step-grandchildren, Ashley (Kenny) Ree
se Yandell, Aaron (Alyssa) Reese, Bill (Ashleigh) Smith, and Mark (Jen
) Smith; and five step-great grandchildren. Anyone was welcome at hi
s table and countless times strangers who stopped for directions becam
e friends before they left his house. He always had room at his tabl
e for one more, no matter how rich or poor he was at the time. He ha
d the right advice for anyone who would ask and always had the last wo
d when it came to his own business. He was honest. He was a giver. H
e was courageous. He always did the right thing, just because it was t
he right thing to do. He was strong. He was a husband, a father, a fri
end, a brother, a grandfather and a mentor. A memorial party will be h
eld Saturday, April 10, 2010, starting at 1 p.m. at the Sugar Valley R
ural Charter School, Loganton, to celebrate the life of this man who n
eeded no thanks. All are welcome whether you knew him or not. Gerald l
oved music, so if you play an instrument - bring it. He loved to talk
, so if you have a good story - plan to tell it. And he loved to fee
d all who sat at his table over the years - so come and break bread wi
th his family and friends. Eternal arrangements are being handled by t
he Wayne P. Urbine Funeral Home Inc., 95 East Main Street Loganton, an
d the memorial by his family who can be contacted at agentzel@cub.kcne
t.org.

Published in Centre Daily Times on April 8, 2010


Birth:



Died:
Geisinger Medical Center

Robert married Vivian DOUTY on 1 Oct 1955. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Bradley GENTZEL
2. Jeffrey GENTZEL
3. Amber GENTZEL
4. Rodney "String" GENTZEL was born in 1957; died on 23 Aug 2008.