Gary Lee Kent, born on January 29, 1941 in Mondovi, Wisconsin to parents, Vilas and Eileen (Schultz-Smiskey) Kent has passed away at the age of 84. Gary was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Gilmanton, Wisconsin.

Gary grew up in the unincorporated village of Gilmanton, attending Gilmanton Elementary School. He graduated from Gilmanton High School with the Class of 1959.

As a teenager, Gary worked for Gilmanton area farmers for room and board. Following high school, he worked in the plywood mills in Coquille, Oregon. When he returned to Wisconsin, he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was employed at Montgomery Ward's Home Mail Order Building on University Avenue for about 9 years. On June 23, 1962, he married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Bauer, at Sacred Heart Church in Mondovi, WI. They were blessed with three sons. In 1969, they moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he worked for UniRoyal Rubber Company for 23.5 years until they closed in 1992. At that time, he attended Chippewa Valley Technical College obtaining a degree in Auto Mechanics. He was then employed at Cardinal Float Glass Company in Menomonie, Wisconsin, from which he retired in 2003.

Gary's favorite pastime was amateur photography where he watched and took many photos of his children and grandchildren participating in their numerous activities. Gary played slow pitch softball for many years and was a very successful pitcher. He enjoyed woodworking (which he shared with family), word search, puzzles and bowling. He bowled four 300 games - his last one at 81 years of age. He also bowled two 800 series after his 65th birthday. He also enjoyed playing cribbage and other card games.

Gary is survived by his sons, Steve (Michelle), Troy (Sylvia) and Brian (Jodi), grandchildren: Nathan (Mariena), Heather (Hogan) Kernstock, Rachel (Matt) Bemis, Matthew (Amanda), Mariah (Ryne), Anna, Tyler, Brianna and Gabriella, great grandchildren: Revlin, Quillin, Crosby, Cormac, Grace and Laura. His mother, Eileen Smiskey, brother, David, sisters: Donna Meistad, Betty Hovey, Susie Kent & Janie (Steve) Palchik. Sisters-in-law: Sharon (John) Wilke, Kathleen (Mark) Dieckman. Brothers-in-law: Gary (Karen), Doug (Julie), Bob (Diane), David (Dorothy), Mark, Ed (Becky) and Rick (Shari). Step siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, many relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Marilyn, his father Vilas, step father Robert Smiskey.

A Celebration of Life Service for Gary will be held at 12:00 Noon on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at the West Chapel – Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home (1405 N Clairemont Avenue) in Eau Claire, WI.  Visitation will be held at the Funeral home on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Services.