ALLEE BRIDGET GENTRY, 74, of Cherokee, Iowa, passed peacefully from this life in the early morning of September 16, 2024, after a steady decline in health. She took her last breath with her daughter holding her hand and opened her eyes while being embraced by her loving savior, Jesus Christ. She was surrounded by her loving family and amazing caretakers, one of whom, was the best nurse she has ever had, her granddaughter Hannah, during the last days of her life at Careage Hills in Cherokee, Iowa.
Graveside memorial services will be held on Friday, September 20, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Liberty Cemetery at rural Meriden, Iowa. Pastor Larry Ostercamp will officiate. There will be no visitation. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.
Bridget was born on July 5, 1950 in Hahira, Georgia to Edward and Margaret Jeanette (Jenkins) Honodel. Her father worked for the national Weather Service, which required the family to move around the United States. She fell in love with the state of Hawaii, where she learned to hula, and in 1968, she graduated from Kailua High School in Oahu.
Bridget was a free spirit, in her words a “gypsy”. As an adult she lived in several states including California, Colorado, Nebraska, and then Iowa. While living in Nebraska in the early 1980’s, Bridget gave her life fully to her savior, Jesus Christ. This vital relationship shaped the rest of her life. Second to Hawaii, Iowa was where her heart was, and she planted her roots for the remainder of her life.
She met and married the love of her life, David Gentry on July 1, 1988, and they have been married for 36 years. Bridget had 2 daughters, Natalie and Jamie. She was their biggest champion and taught both girls about Jesus and about not letting life’s challenges define you. She thought that family was important and she fiercely loved hers. She was so proud to earn the title of Nana to her 3 granddaughters and 3 grandsons. She enjoyed coffee houses, antiquing, rock hunting, and junk stores. She had an eye for turning someone’s junk into a treasure. She was an avid reader and loved to play games. She was very creative, always making something. She loved planning events and did that on many occasions like birthdays, weddings, graduations, baby showers, etc. She would make the majority of decorations herself . She also loved animals with her whole heart and had some truly special ones, Alex, Micah, Maggie, and Mia. Bridget had many health issues over the years, but she continued to always be present to help her family when they were in need. She was a true gift to those who had the privilege to know her.
Bridget is survived by her husband, David of Cherokee, Iowa; daughters Natalie (Brian) Herron of Cherokee, Iowa and Jamie (Tim) Hennings of Stonewall LA; along with her stepchildren Michael Gentry, Bill Gentry, Donald Gentry, and Jewell Dinneen; She was Nana to Hayley, Justin, Hannah, Christopher, Dylan, and Sidney, and great-Nana to Aurora, Adalyn Allee, Lillian, Shae, Hadley, Jonathan, Avery, Scarlett, and Clayton; also left to cherish her memory are siblings Edward (Dee) Honodel of Quenemo, KS; Julie (Dave) Todich of Vernal, UT, Scott (Terry) Honodel of Tucson, AZ; along with her nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Cherokee Regional Hospice and Careage Hills for their superior care and compassion to our wife, mom, and nana during her journey home to glory, where she is rejoicing and free from the chains of sickness and pain.
