Wanted to share and save some of the comments received about dad:

Al, and I worked together on and off throughout his career. We were always close and I really enjoyed our time together. We were roommates at my condo in Alameda for a short time. It was such a treat to see Al, at a luncheon. He will be missed by all of his AFD brothers.


Sorry to hear this. Al was such a nice person and so easygoing. I’ll never forget the time at 2’s when JR had just put wax on his truck and Al was barbecuing. The fire was a little sluggish so Al reversed the hose in the shop vac and used it to stoke the fire. Only problem was he blew ashes all over JR’s wax job!  He came running in the station looking for a place to hide!!! I LMAO!


Al was a nice man and one that did his job well. My thoughts are with his family and of course Al.  Rest in peace Al.


No one nicer than Al Kentner. So easy to work with him. Great sense of humor and very intelligent.


Saw of his passing on Facebook and couldn’t believe it! I worked with Al as a new kid at sta.2 in 1983. What a great guy! His family which I believe Dave Howes posted on this email has a memorial set up with really good pictures and three videos. It was good seeing Al at the past AFD retirement luncheons! Thx Doug Rogers for encouraging him to attend these luncheon it was always good to see him and talk with him.  RIP my brother Al


 I WAS SORRY TO HEAR OF  AL KENTER PASSING. I WORKED WITH AL AT STA' 2 FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE HE LEFT THE DEP'T, HE WAS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH,A GREAT FIREF\IGHTER,HE WAS LIKED BY EVERYBODYWHO WORKED AND KNEW HIM.

 
I wanted to thank you for the Facebook posting about your Dad.  I was so sorry to hear this news.  I had the pleasure of working with Allan at Westaff until 2009.  He was just what our department needed during the challenging times of the company's last days.  He was a truly kind, helpful and hard working man... no task or demanding boss or customer was too much for him.  All who got to work with him loved him.  His wit and upbeat personality were amazing.  Allan shared many stories of you and your brother and Grands.  He was one proud Dad and Grandpa!! 

I know he is singing "It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" up in heaven.  He made a point of singing it every morning (whether we wanted to hear it or not =)).

Uncle Allan,

I want you to know I have always thought of you as a good man. A man who was loving and truly cared about his family and friends. I have admired you in many ways.

As a child I looked forward to your visits, bringing Kevin and Theresa up to WA, and the awesome bone fires we would make! I knew when you were coming it meant time in the woods, fires, and shooting weapons!  These are great memories I hold dear to my heart. I remember once going to CA for a family reunion, in June of 1997, and afterwards hitching a ride with Sheri and Brenda, I believe, to Sacramento to visit a friend. After a day at this "friends" house, I called you and asked if you would come pick me up from Castro Valley because I found myself in a bad situation. Without hesitation, you said, "Yup, I'll be there first thing in the morning." You were, you showed up early morning and missing work. I remember feeling special that you would take the time, unscheduled, and save me from this situation. Now I don't know how far it is between these two cities, but I do remember the good conversations we had on that way back to your place. Thank you.

I could tell how much you loved your children and grandchildren. Thank you for being a wonderful uncle to myself and my kids. You would send me "Happy Mother's Day" texts, "Happy Birthday" texts, and a text just to check in. I appreciated it. It made me know you were thinking of me. 

I will miss you. I know one day I will get to see you again. I hope Grandma Rusty was there to greet you along with your brothers. I love you.  Thank you for enriching my life.

Found this in Dad's notes (dated May 10, 2021) titled "Things I've Done"

At Encinal High School in 1966, I ran the one mile run on a dirt/cinder surface...barefoot.
I took the driver's license test in Hawaii while driving a yellow taxi cab.
I've milked a cow by hand.
I've donated over 5 gallons of my blood.
Using a chainsaw, I've cut down trees and used horse's to skid them out to the sawmill.
I worked in a saw mill sorting and stacking freshly cut boards.
Living in upstate NY (Camden) our family tapped Maple trees in the winter for its sap and then made maple syrup. 
I used to fly an airplane (Cessna).
In 1967, the aircraft I was a air crew member on in Vietnam was struck by small arms fire while taking off from Chu Lai. 
I've used a fire pole to slide down while working with the NAS Alameda FD. 

States I've been to: California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virgnina, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts

Countries I've been to: Canada, Mexico, Philippines, Wake Island, South Vietnam, Thailand, China (Hong Kong), Taiwan, Japan

Thinking about the last Mother's Day my (remaining) brothers and I were all together with our mom.  It was his idea to all get together to surprise Mom for Mother's Day.  But word got out before the surprise, which was ok anyway because Mom loved looking forward to things, especially such a great time as having us all together.  We had lost our elder brother David many years before, but was always in our thoughts and stories.  Even though it wasn't a surprise, Allan still came up with the idea for we siblings to get a professional studio group photo to surprise her with.  She treasured that photo, almost as much as the gathering itself.  Of course we humored Mom with several hot games of poker.  She would stumble on the boy's names because we were all there.  So Allan got the bright idea to write "AL" on his forehead to help her out.  It was hilarious!!  Allan loved to laugh with ya.  He also had appropriate reverence.  Friends and family meant everything to him.  He would go out of his way to spend time with them.  He cared so much for the youth, going even to out of state events for his extended families' sports events to show support and cheer.  He always asked how the kids and grandkids were doing and very much cared about the answers.  If he could hop on a plane and go meet up with someone that needed a nudge or a hug, he would do it.  He was not a rich man, but he truly had a heart of gold.  

You BLESSED the lives of everyone you encountered, a shining example of a good Christian.  Young and old, animal or human, liked you right away,.  But I am your sister, and I am feeling like I need to set the record straight.  Our family was better having you in it.  Even....well, I will wait for that story :)  You drove me nuts feeding the spider in the door jam in Eugene everyday.  You loved the science.  You and brother David set track records at the high school in Eugene.  You went back some years later (I think later 1970's) and your record was still unbroken at that time.  You told me spooky stories and made me watch those stupid scifi movies from the 1940's through the 1990's.  You made me watch Godzilla on one New Years Eve because you were bigger than me and had control over the tv.  You also made me watch every episode of Hogans Heros.  And that rotten mummy movie!  Boy, were you glued to Star Trek when it came out. You planted the trees that are at the entrance to what was the base at Alameda, California while in the Navy Reserves before you went full time Navy right after graduation from high school.  I took your 'I am getting shipped out today' call when you went active duty Navy and got sent to boot camp.  Mom wasn't home at the time.  The next time I saw you you came home a married man.  Wow.  I remember when my husband got transferred to the Bay Area while in the Navy I dropped in to visit you and told you I was pregnant, and so were you!  Well, 29 days apart, both overdue, our kids were born.  You became the best example of a dad anyone could imagine.  All through our lives you showed caring and love to all around you. You were the nicest of our generation, right alongside Uncle Ralph. There is no doubt in my mind you had a huge crowd welcoming you with open arms as we here, and there in the after life, know where you are now.  Just don't tickle my neck when I get there, OK?!??   Love you forever Bro.  Gonna miss you forever.