June Elizabeth Wall Gesner

Beloved and respected by all who knew her, June Elizabeth Wall Gesner, peacefully passed away of natural causes at age 97. June was born in Dallas, Oregon, June 13, 1924, one of six children of Jacob and Katherine Wall, and grew up there. She was the last of her siblings to pass. Richard D Gesner of Salem joined the Army in January 1941, serving in Merrill's Marauders throughout World War II. June married Richard on November 17, 1944. When Richard was discharged on September 23, 1945, they moved to Salem. June did a lot of waitressing early in her life and later retired from Moore Business Forms.

She and Richard had three children, Dale and Gordon Gesner and daughter Rhonda Gesner Sablan. Dale (Cheryl) is the father of four children, Wendi (Brandon) Coates, Lori (Jon) Hardy, Cory (Belinda) Gesner, and Kelsey (Jason) Steffen. Gordon L (Deborah) Gesner is the father of Britt E. Prince ( fiancee Robbie LaRue) and grandson Ryan V. Gesner, who predeceased his grandmother in 1993. Rhonda Sablan (Ross Poroun-Sablan) is the mother of grandchildren, Heather (Phillip) Gardner, Derick Wyatt (girlfriend Desirae), and Andrew Sablan (fiancee Kim Haakenson). June is survived by twenty-seven great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

June attended the Court Street Christian Church in Salem, enjoying crafts groups, teaching Sunday School and being the President of the Senior Sunday School Group. She enjoyed making homemade items, puzzles, playing Scrabble and cooking German family recipes, including some special pastries. In recent years, June resided at The Springs Retirement Village in Salem. She had many friends there and participated in all kinds of activities.

There will be a Memorial Service at Court Street Christian Church at a later date. Interment will be at Willamette National Cemetery, Happy Valley, Oregon, next to Richard. June loved children and donations may be made in her name to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital at stjude.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hed-fh.com for the Gesner family.