Joanne Louise Bowles

Joanne Louise (Gent) Bowles
Godfrey - Joanne Louise (Gent) Bowles, peacefully entered heaven at 9:35 p.m. Monday, March 24, 2025. She was born March 5, 1937 in Alton, IL, the daughter of Ralph Albert and Eleanor Louise (Winter) Gent. Joanne graduated from Gulf Park College in Gulfport, MS.
On September 12, 1959 she married Lester B. Bowles in Alton. Joanne and Les, along with her sister and brother-in-law, Susan (Gent) and Robert Scoggins, purchased Gent Funeral Home from their parents in 1972. Joanne was a licensed funeral director for over 40 years and together with Les, they served many families in our community. Joanne enjoyed knitting, especially baby hats which she made for the maternity wards of our local hospitals. She was a member of Heartland Baptist Church in Alton. She was preceded in death by her husband, Les, on September 7, 2023. Surviving are her children, Lynn Hoffman and her husband, Michael, Ralph Gent Bowles and his wife, Dawn, Laura Bosse', and Louise Jacoby and her husband, Stephen; six grandchildren, Nathanael Hoffman, Benjamin Bowles, Dr. Emma and her husband, Dr. Kade Kanelakos, Josie Williams and her husband, Cortlan, Joseph Bosse' and Samuel Bosse'; one great granddaughter, Karter Lynnette Kanelakos. Also surviving is a sister, Nancy A. Gent. Along with her parents; and husband; she was preceded in death by her sister, Susan Scoggins Smith.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 27, 2025 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton where funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, March 28, 2025. Reverend Alex Melton and Reverend Andre' Dobson will officiate. Burial will be at Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey. Memorials may be made to Heartland Baptist Church in Alton or Calvary Baptist Church in Alton.
Online guestbook and information may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com.