Joseph J. Gentle, 72
Joseph John Gentle, 72, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Jan. 6, 2009.
He graduated in 1954 at St. Augustine’s High School in Austin, attended the University of Minnesota studying electrical engineering and served in the U.S. Army. He was an engineering lab technician at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, retiring in 1993. He had the distinction of working on the communications for the Apollo Moon Landing. His great love was ham radio. Using his five watts, he contacted more than 100 countries worldwide using only non-gain wire antennas.
He is survived by his sisters, Mary Gentle and Margaret Paynter; brother, Michael Gentle; niece, Beth Burvant; nephews, Christian Erickson, Nicholas Gentle and Greg Gentle; grand-nieces, Evelyn Burvant, Lucy Burvant and Audrey Burvant.
A memorial service will be held in the spring at Calvary Cemetery in Austin.