Donald Edward Gens 1921-2026

Donald Edward Gens, age 105,
of Lake Crystal, Minnesota, died
on March 3, 2026, at his home.
Funeral Service will be held
at Trinity Lutheran Church in
Madelia on Saturday, March 14,
2026, at 11 a.m. Visitation will

take place at the church on Sat-
urday from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Interment will be at Trinity
Lutheran Cemetery in Madelia.
Arrangements are with Sturm

Funeral Home in Madelia. On-
line Condolences may be left for

the family at www.sturmfh.com.
Donald Edward Gens, was
born Jan. 1, 1921 in Ceresco
Township, Blue Earth County,
Minnesota, to Edward and Ella

(Keehn) Gens. He was bap-
tized and confirmed in Ceresco

Zion Lutheran Church. Donald
attended District School No. 130
through 8th grade, when he had
to quit school to help his father,
who had been injured, with the
farm. In 1941 he graduated from
Mankato Commercial College in
junior accounting. He continued
to farm in Ceresco Township,
Blue Earth County, until the
age of 96, when he moved into
Madelia.
On March 12, 1944 Donald and
Marjorie G. Berry were married

by Rev. Hans Werner at the par-
sonage in Mankato, Minnesota.

They welcomed two children to

their family: Barbara and Rod-
ney. Donald's faith was a very

important part of his life and his
family's life. He was a member
of Trinity Lutheran Church,
Madelia, serving on the church
council and cemetery board. He
and Marjorie helped start the
Cub Scout Program at Trinity.
Donald served as a 4-H leader,
and worked at the Blue Earth
County Fair. He served many
years on the Blue Earth County

conservation program.
He loved traveling, fishing,

hosting parties, games, camp-
ing, gardening, playing pranks,

a good conversation, drives in
the countryside, and of course,
farming. He would do anything
for his children, grandchildren,
and great-grandchildren, whom
he loved deeply.
Donald is survived by his
children: Barbara (James)
Vantine and Rodney (Brenda)
Gens; grandchildren: Christa
(Lee) Kreutter, Katie Vantine,
Jill (Dave) Terrell, Terri (Scott)
Ingraham, Darrin (Lindsay)
Gens, Matt (Lacy Wellman)
Gens; six great-grandchildren:
Kaitlin and Ashlynn Kreutter,
Jackson and Ella Ingraham,
Logan and Weston Gens; a niece
and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his
wife Marjorie; parents; brother,
Lorentz (Norva) Gens; sisters,
Delta (Harold) Keitzer and

Esther (Anton) Boeck; brother-
in-law, Lyle (Sylvia) Berry; and

granddaughter, Jody Vantine.