A Celebration of Life Service for Verna Gentry, age 101, of Okabena, will be held Monday, February 16th at 10:30 AM at the LaCanne Family Celebration of Life Center in Windom with burial in Memory Gardens Cemetery in rural Windom.

A visitation for Verna will be held on Monday, February 16th for one hour prior to the service, from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at the LaCanne Family Celebration of Life Center in Windom.

Verna Geraldine Oelke was born on October 21, 1924, on the family farm in Delafield Township to Arthur and Minnie (Krahn) Oelke. She was baptized at St. Peter Lutheran Church on November 16, 1924.

She grew up on the family farm and attended country and parochial school. She then went to Mankato Beauty School and graduated in 1948. She married Warren (Lefty) Gentry on June 11, 1950, at St. Peter Lutheran Church. Warren and Verna were blessed with two children: Gregory and Sandra. The couple worked on the family farm until they retired in 1983 and moved to Okabena. Verna owned and operated a beauty shop in her home for many years. She still volunteered for many years at area nursing homes doing hair dos.

Verna belonged to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. She was active in Ladies Aid, belonged to Okabena Auxiliary for 68 years and very active for many years as a volunteer with the TAC program at Worthington. She enjoyed dancing, bowling, fishing and attending many sporting events for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting, making sure we all had plenty of Afghans. Verna was a great cook and baker and loved gardening, especially flowers. Every Monday morning was spent with her coffee ladies in Okabena. Verna also loved walking. If you happened to be driving through Okabena, chances are you would see her and she would wave.

Verna passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Keelson Harbour Assisted Living and Memory Care in Spirit Lake, Iowa at the age of 101.

Verna is survived by her son, Gregory (Nancy) Gentry of Savannah, MO; daughter, Sandra (Robert) Madsen of Okabena; 8 grandchildren, Brian (Sarah) Gentry, Darren (Casey) Gentry, Jason (Bettina) Gentry, Patricia (Jonathan) Hinkeldey, Robert Madsen, Jr., Kathleen (Duane) Hattendorf, Tracy (Joel) Reierson, Diana (William) Holden; 21 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her siblings, Erma, Darald, Earl and their spouses.

Blessed be the memory of Verna Gentry.