Stanley Lee Jantz was born Sept. 12, 1932, to Joseph and Audra Burch Jantz in Copeland, Kan. He peacefully passed away on Sept. 3, 2019 at his home in Clarksdale, surrounded by family, after a courageous battle with ALS.
When Stan was 6 years old his family moved to Bonners Ferry Idaho. His childhood years were spent in Idaho, where he received his education and experienced his early youth years.
In 1955, at the age of 23, Stan answered God’s call to repentance, and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite at Winton, Calif., by Jake Loewen. His mother had long been praying for her sons, and those prayers were answered when Stan and two of his brothers were added to the fold, and two of her wandering boys returned. The commitments Stan made to God, and the love he had for the church remained steadfast throughout his life.
On Oct. 26, 1958, Stan was joined in marriage to me, June Jantz at Fredonia, Kan. God granted us over 60 years together. Life took on more meaning and greater responsibility when our home was blessed with two sons and a daughter. This family circle was broken on Dec. 1, 1978, when our precious son, Lyle was taken from us in a tragic accident.
Our father provided well for his family. He joined a logging crew at the age of 18, along with his brothers. Later he became manager at G&M Manufacturing in Winton California. His 1-W service years were at Grace Nursing Home in California. In the spring of 1976, we moved to Clarksdale, where Dad and two of his brothers began farming in the Delta. Dad retired from farming in 1999. After his retirement Mom and Dad made lasting friendships over coffee at McDonalds.
Stan was an inspiration to all who knew him. His fun loving nature and caring heart won him many lasting friendships. His children and grandchildren were very special to him, and many others also knew him as Papa Stan. Losing his eyesight did not alter Stan’s love of traveling. Highlights were two Alaskan trips and one to Europe in 2002.
We will miss our husband, father, Grandad, and Papa, but we are comforted in knowing that his suffering is over and he is at rest in that beautiful land.
Those who will miss him most are his wife June, his daughter Carmen and Todd Haynes, Carson City, Mich., son Joshua and Megan Jantz, Clarksdale. Grandchildren: Jamie and Terry Schmidt, Rachelle and Taylor Giesbrecht, Mikah Jantz, and Lauren Jantz of Clarksdale. Jordan and Alicia Haynes, Natasha and Elijah Iung of Carson City, Michigan. Six great grandchildren. Brothers: Bob and Florence, Winton Calif., Ron and Marlene, Uvalde, Texas. Sisters in law: Marcia Buller, Scio, Ore. and Ina Jantz, Winton, Calif. His wife’s family: Delores Holdeman, Paris, Texas, Ronnie and Elnora Jantz, Stover, Mo., Howard and Shirley Jantz, Hesston, Kan., Marge Jantz, Scio, Ore., Winona, Mrs. Russell Koehn, Potlatch, Idaho, Keith and Pam Jantz Kansas City, Mo., Janet Jost, Brooksville, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was predeceased by his son Lyle, his parents, his parents in law, three brothers, two brothers- in- law and two sisters- in- law.
Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at the Clarksdale Mennonite Church. A viewing will be before the service will be 10 to 10:45 a.m. Sunday, September 8, 2019 with funeral services at 11 a.m. at the Clarksdale Mennonite Church with burial in the church’s cemetery. Meredith-Nowell Funeral Home in Clarksdale is handling the arrangements.
