Lester D. Jantz, 92, of McPherson 67460, Kansas, passed away at 11:15 p.m., Saturday, May 1st, 2021 peacefully with his wife by his side, at Cedars House.
Lester was born in 1/2 mile West of Galva, on his parents Homestead, Kansas on January 4, 1929, a son of Ruth Olga (Eck) and Edwin Henry Jantz.
Lester attended the Galva grade school and graduated from Galva High School, Galva, Kansas in 1947.
He was a member of New Hope Evangelical Church McPherson, KS where he served his church in many capacities through the years.
Lester served in the United States Air Force as a SSGT in the Korean War. He received the NDSM and GCM and served with the 3635th Field Maintenance Squadron.
Lester Dean Jantz was united in marriage to Shirley Mae Stucky on August 5, 1955 at the Eden Mennonite Church, rural Moundridge, Kansas. The young couple established their first home together in McPherson, Kansas. This union was blessed with the birth of three children, two sons and one daughter, Steven, Tony, and Angela.
Lester started in 1945 working for San-Ore Construction until 1948. In 1949 he began working for Hutch Concrete Company building Silos until 1950 when he was called to serve his country during the Korean War in the United States Air Force. In 1954 after his honorable discharge he went back to Hutch Concrete until February of 1955 when he began working for Boeing Aircraft working on Jet Engines. In 1955 there was a lay off and Lester came home and worked for his dad on the farm until later that year when he started working for Lake Superior Lumber Company. In 1966 the name changed to Harris Lumber Co. and Lester became partners with Harold Harris, Warner Harris, and Harold Schlender until 1985 when Lester and Shirley purchased the lumber yard and changed the name to Jantz Lumber Company.
Lester enjoyed traveling, gardening, landscaping, camping, fishing, his family, and enjoyed watching and collecting model trains and airplanes, and southern gospel music.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of over 65 years, Shirley Jantz, of McPherson, Kansas; his children, Steven Jantz and wife Heidi, of McPherson, Kansas, Tony Jantz and wife Joleen, of McPherson, Kansas, and Angela Sue Krehbiel and husband Jeff, of McPherson, Kansas; his sister, Betty Stucky, of Wichita, Kansas; his six grandchildren, Levi Jantz, Joshua Jantz, Adam Jantz and wife Megan, Danielle Chrans and husband Brenten, Matthew Jantz, and Zachary Krehbiel and wife Janae; his eight great-grandchildren – Jamison Jantz, Luke Jantz, David Jantz, Adalynn Jantz, Emma Jantz, Logan Chrans, Kailey Chrans, and Corbin Krehbiel; nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
Lester was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Ruth Jantz and a brother Virgil Jantz.
Visitation will be held on Friday May 7, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Glidden – Ediger Chapel, McPherson, Kansas.
The funeral service will be held at New Hope Evangelical Church, McPherson, Kansas at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 8th, 2021 with Pastor George Bocox Officiating.
Burial will be at the McPherson Cemetery McPherson, Kansas with members of the V.F.W. Post 2715 and American Legion Post 24 providing Military Honors and Mark Casebeer providing Taps.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to New Hope Evangelical Church and they can be sent in care of the Glidden – Ediger Funeral Home; 222 West Euclid; McPherson, Kansas 67460.