Franklin Isaac Lantz

Frank Lantz was born in Osceola, MO on April 11, 1929 but brought to Birmingham, MO when he was just a few months old. In his words, “Mom says she dropped me on some railroad track when I was a month old – that should explain a lot to those who wondered about me. I was terrified of vacuum sweepers and wooly worms (yes, I do remember)!”

In his early years he was a member of the Boy Scouts but reportedly, “I was not too good at it. I learned to swim by Dad and Uncle Bill throwing me into Shoal Creek. I loved camping out in the summer or winter. I didn’t know or care that we were poor because I was rich in imagination.” Frank met his best friend, Bud Lance, when he was 7 years old and their friendship remained throughout their lifetimes.

During his early adulthood, Frank was a Sunday School Superintendent at Birmingham Baptist Church and regularly attended Bible school. He started working at Safeway as a mail room boy and quit seventeen and a half years later as a Chief Accountant. He worked at Kitchen Craft in Direct to consumer sales and also worked in retail sales at Western Auto. Here’s something you may not know: Frank was in the Hargrave Secret Service as an investigator and worked for the Melco Detective Agency as a private investigator.

Frank was in the U.S. Army Reserves (Machine accounting Unit) from 1949 to 1951, and the U.S Army (transferred from Reserves) from 1951 to 1953. He was stationed in Pusan, Korea in G3 Intelligence, Ground Liaison Operations attached to the U.S. Airforce based at K-9. He received a Korean Service Medal with 3 bronze service stars, the United Nations Service Medal with two overseas bars, and was presented with a commendation ribbon in Seoul Korea in 1953.

Frank eventually found his calling and began working at Acme Office Systems and rose from Salesman to Branch Manager, moving his family from Kansas City, MO to Louisville, KY to St. Louis, MO and finally to Boston, MA where he achieved an unbelievable sales record for Acme to Digital. But he expressed his proudest career accomplishment to be his taking the initiative to start and co-own his own business which he ran until he retired at the age of 62 (retiring to Camden, MO in Lake of the Ozarks).

Frank has discussed his proudest family moments to be “marrying Josephine Fernandez and still being married” after 62 years. He took great pride in his two children, Randy Lantz and Terri Jordan, and his four wonderful grandchildren: Matthew Lantz, Derek Jordan, Nikole Jordan and Ashley Jordan, as well as his loving daughter-in-law, Karen Lantz and son-in-law, Glenn Jordan. His loving parents (deceased) were Isabel Lantz and Charles Lantz, and his sisters were Bonnie Irene Claunch (deceased) and Georgia Butler, not to mention “many wonderful nieces, nephews and cousins.”

Frank was the Local President, State Vice-President and National Director of the Kansas Jaycees; Local President of Acton, MA Lions Club; President of the Associated Recorded Managers and Administrators in Boston, MA; President of Safeway Employees Association; Director/Auditor of Safeway Credit Union. He received the Outstanding Leadership Award and Gavel from Dale Carnegie; Presidential Award from the Acton lions Club; King’s Crown from Kansas Jaycees.

Frank lived a full life. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a positive outlook that enabled him to overcome many difficult times in his life. His presence was known by all who met him and he made many friends along the way who considered him family. He loved his family dearly and had a special connection with his “little sis” Georgie. He enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, and watching sports (especially the Kansas City Royals). In his final years he lived at Sunrise of Leawood Senior Living with his wife Josephine and made an impact on the staff and residents alike. Frank will always be known for his unbreakable spirit, quick wit, deep intellect, and animated humor. He was loved by many who will forever cherish his memory.

Please share a memory at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com.