Olan B. Jantz

Olan Benjamin Jantz, son of Henry Jantz and Elizabeth Koehn Jantz, was born March 30, 1916 at Meno, Oklahoma and died September 13, 2011 at his farm home in Jefferson, Iowa, at the age of 95 years, 5 months, and 13 days. Funeral services were at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson, Iowa 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 16, 2011. Rev. Julie Poulsen provided words of comfort. Honorary casket bearers were his grandchildren: Jennifer Woodruff, Becky Killion, Jamie Campbell, Sara Parsley, Adam Campbell, and Laura Sutton. Active casket bearers were Don Coon, Jay Ostrander, Dennis Ostrander, Jerry Ostrander, Bob Ausberger, and Bill Sutton. A poem, "Grandpa" written by Rebecca Lynn Killion, was included in the Memorial Folder. Music was provided by organist Sheryl Sloan, soloist Dick Bardole singing "The Lord's Prayer," and soloist Gary Haupert singing "On Eagles Wings" and "How Great Thou Art." Arlon Yepsen and Jim Barnett were ushers. Internment was at the Jefferson Cemetery in Jefferson, Iowa following the service at the church. A lunch and time of fellowship was celebrated at the church after the service at the cemetery. Olan graduated high school at Fairview, Oklahoma. During his high school years, Olan played football. The team was extremely good and during his senior year, they were rated #1 in the state. Olan graduated from Oklahoma A & M (now Oklahoma State) in 1949. During WWII, Olan served in the U.S. Navy. Before being inducted in May of 1943, he worked for North American Aviation Corporation where he was a foreman. He was honorably discharged as a Radarman, second class on January 5, 1946. Olan taught radar countermeasures during his service at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He was on the USS Topeka at the Bay of Tokyo the night before the bombing of Hiroshima. He was awarded the Victory Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal. Olan married Avis Louise Hawley on August 21, 1946 in Inglewood, California. They just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Olan and Avis seemed destined to meet, as he was from Oklahoma, and Avis from this area, both winding up in Inglewood. They met at a Sunday School Picnic in Inglewood. The couple moved to Jefferson in 1950 to their present farm north of Jefferson where they raised their children Sharon and Warren. Olan was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson and was a member of the Farm Bureau. He had served on the Greene County Extension. Olan's greatest love was Avis and his family. He was loved dearly by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were the light of his life right up to the end. Olan enjoyed polishing rocks, making jewelry from them, and enjoyed traveling with Avis. Olan had a very fulfilling life on the farm, raising grain and livestock. Olan was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother Paul Jantz, brother Raymond Jantz and sister Marjorie Jantz. He will be greatly missed by his loving family, wife Avis, son Warren and wife Sue of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, daughter Sharon Campbell and husband Daryl of Bridgewater, six grandchildren Jennifer Woodruff (Mike) and Becky Killion (Rick) all of Jefferson, Jamie Campbell of Fontanelle, Sara Parsley (Ryan) of Kennesaw, Georgia, Adam Campbell (Jackie) of Orient, and Laura Sutton (Simeon) of San Antonio, Texas, great-grandchildren Ethan Woodruff, Evan Woodruff, Logan Woodruff, Nickolas Killion, Lauryn Killion, Emily Campbell, Eli Campbell and Alexis Sutton, brother Lawrence Jantz of Midwest City, Oklahoma, sister Louisa Ulrich of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many, many friends. Grandpa Grandpa, you are Special! You were Heaven, sent to me. A Church picnic with my Grandma, That's how our family came to be. You traveled trouble waters, In your service to our Land. And with your safe return, You held my Grandma's hand. A daughter and a son then came to be, In the life you made together. They became the next link, In the family that you tether. Six grandchildren now follow. In the path you blazed for us. All because you loved one girl, The one you called Avis. There are now eight great-grandchildren, Entrusted to God's hand. I bet you never dreamed, Your love would grow so grand! Your Love has spread so greatly, It holds our family true, I know again, someday, I'll see you, Until then, know, I love you! Rebecca Lynn Killion Memorials may be left at Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson, Iowa.