Morton R. “Mort” Gentz, 95, Appleton, formerly of Gillett, passed away Friday, March 22, 2019, at home. His family was at his side.
Mort was born Nov. 30, 1923, to the late Julius and Kathryn (Weidner) Gentz at Bowler. He graduated from Bowler High School in 1941. On June 14, 1944, he married the love of his life, Lorraine Hoefs, at Zion Lutheran Church in Zachow. He was a proud World War II Veteran, serving his country in the U.S. Air Force as an aerial front nose gunner on B-24 Bombers in the Pacific Theater of War.
Following his military service, he and Lorraine worked for Red Owl Stores. They owned and operated Gentz’s Flowers and Greenhouses in Gillett, retiring in 1978. They went on to spend 22 years at Finnegan Lake, building a home and caring for flowers, trees and multiple vegetable gardens.
In 2000, they moved to apartment living. Mort was active in volunteering for Boy Scouts, Northern Gardeners, Revitalize Gillett, Oconto County Historical Society and was a paid-up life member of Krause-Simpson American Legion Post 300. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church serving on council and various committees of the church. He was a co-chair for the church’s 100th anniversary celebration. Mort and Lorraine were honored as grand marshals for the 2005 Fourth of July parade.
He is survived by his wife, Lorraine, of Appleton; son Michael (Cindy) Gentz, of Green Bay; daughter, Wendy (Kurt) Redlin, of Appleton and Alabama. He also leaves his grandchildren, Monica Fischer, of Gillett; Ai (Kyoto) Saito, of Florida and Japan; Trisha Snow of Oshkosh; Ori-Anna (Mark) Ramsey of West Bend and Brandon Redlin of Neenah. Mort is further survived by his nieces, Judy (Robert) Kroening, Leopolis; Marilyn (Todd) Hanson, Shawano; Sally (Todd) Popp, Appleton; and numerous other nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Leila (Robert) Doran; brother, Tony (Tana) Gentz; brother-in-law. Maynard (Bernice) Hoefs; and beloved grandson, Ryan Fischer.
Memorial visitation will be Saturday, April 13, 2019, from 9-11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 101 W. Main St., Gillett. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. Final rest will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Zachow.
The family would like to express a special thank you to the ThedaCare Hospice Team of Appleton for all their loving support.