Henry “Gardner” Gentemann, age 84, of Ambler, Alaska, passed from this life on May 19, 2018, in Fairbanks.

Gardner was born on Dec. 19, 1933, in Independence, Ore. He spent his formative years in the Queets Clearwater Valley area of Washington state. While living there, he was a logger and shake mill operator. He also served with the Washington State Patrol for several years. He later relocated his family to northern Alaska’s Kobuk River Valley at Ambler, where he remained until his death. Gardner embodied the true Alaskan entrepreneurial spirit. He and his wife, Shirley, successfully operated Kobuk River Lodge and General Store for 35 years as well as a fishing and guiding business with his son, Loren.

Gardner is survived by his loving wife, Shirley. They would have celebrated their 50th anniversary in the fall of this year. He is survived by his children: Mark Gentemann, Loren (Jayde) Gentemann, Jennifer (Galen) Elders, Kathleen (Claude) Turk and Trisha (Brian) Settlemyre, his brother, Col. (R) Michor (Lee) Gentemann; sisters, Betsy Groben and Nancy Ann Gentemann, 13 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Elizabeth Gentemann and sister, Susan Hickam.

Burial services were held on Friday, May 25, 2018, in Ambler, Alaska. A memorial service will be held in August in the lower 48 in Clearwater, Wash. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the J. Michael Carroll Cancer Center at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, 1640 Cowles St., Fairbanks, AK 99701.

Online condolences may be made to the family at blanchardfamilyfuneralhome.com.