John Wantz
January 2, 1946 — July 22, 2019
John Lewis Wantz, 73, of Thurmont, Maryland, passed away on July 22, 2019, at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He was the husband of 24 years to the late Wanda Hemler Wantz.
Born on January 2, 1946, in Hanover, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Harold L. Wantz Sr. and Evelyn Schwitters Wantz. John was a graduate of Thurmont High School and went on to join the United States Navy, serving two tours in Vietnam on the USS Kitty Hawk. He was a member of the American Legion, Amvets and VFW of Thurmont. He worked for 47½ years for RR Donnelly, formerly Moore Business Forms. John enjoyed traveling, watching his grandchildren play ball, golfing and was known as an avid storyteller.
John is survived by his daughter, Angie Krantz of Thurmont; son, Chris Wantz and wife Tonya of Emmitsburg; grandchildren, Hunter, Madelyn, and Caleb Krantz and Connor Wantz; brother, Harold L. Wantz Jr. of Jacksonville, FL; siblings-in-law, Ronnie Hemler and wife Marty, Barb Andrew and husband Kenny, and Mike Hemler and wife Gladys, all of Thurmont, and Sandy Long and companion Bob Sanders of Fairfield, PA; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and his longtime friend and companion, Marie “Buttons” Messner.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Shane Krantz; sister, Jeanne Wantz; and sister-in-law, Cindy Wantz.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 28, 2019, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Stauffer Funeral Home, 104 E. Main Street, Thurmont, MD 21788. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 29, 2019, at Stauffer Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the St. Anthony’s Shrine cemetery at the National Shrine Grotto in Emmitsburg.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1393 Progress Way, Suite 908, Eldersburg, MD 21784 or to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.