Paul Genstler ’48 was born August 1, 1922, in South Bend, Indiana, to German immigrant parents. His father died when he was 4 years old. As a child, he roamed the streets, and school wasn’t his favorite activity. After his mother attended evangelistic tent meetings and joined the Adventist Church, Dr. Genstler began attending church school, where he thrived. He then attended Indiana Adventist Academy and then Emmanual Missionary College (now Andrews University), where he took pre-med courses.
After medical school he completed his internship at White Memorial Hospital, where he met his future wife, Pearl Lodahl SN’45. After working as a physician at the federal penitentiary in Springfield, Montana, for two years, he decided to pursue mission service after hearing Sherman A. Nagel ’40, speak while he was on furlough from Nigeria.
The family spent the next five years in Nigeria serving at Ile-Ife Mission Hospital and Jengre Mission Hospital. His colleagues were Donald Peterson ’47, Kenneth V. Gard ’53-A, and Arthur M. Owens ’55. Three years later, the couple moved to Singapore where Dr. Genstler worked at Youngberg Memorial Hospital with colleagues Merle H. Peterson ’52, Calvin A. Olson ’51, KenNeth J. McGill ’51, and Galen H. Coffin ’49for the next eight years.
After returning to the U.S. in 1974, Dr. Genstler became board certified in family practice. The family settled in Exeter, California, where he practiced until retiring at age 87. His faith in God and belief in the Adventist Church’s message were the guiding force of his life. He was an active proponent of the Adventist health message and was active in community health outreach.
He was preceded in death by Pearl, his wife of 65 years, and is survived by his three children: Darrell E. Genstler ’77-A (Geraldine Corbett), Curtis C. Genstler ’77-B(Leslie Hall), Arla J Genstler ’86 (Anthony Barelli), seven grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.Â