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Donald Schantz
DONALD SCHANTZ
Fort Atkinson
Donald Schantz, 80, of Fort Atkinson, formerly of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, June 23, 2017, at his home in Fort Atkinson. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 29, at Calmar Lutheran Church with the Rev. Phillip Olson presiding. Burial will be in the St. Wenceslaus Cemetery, Spillville. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Schluter Balik Funeral Home Chekal Chapel in Fort Atkinson. There will also be visitation after 10 a.m. Thursday at the church.
Donald Lloyd Schantz was born Dec. 2, 1936, the son of Carlton and Darleen Shadwick (Phillips) Schantz, in Troy Mills, Iowa. Don graduated from Troy Mills High School. He enlisted in the Army and served from 1956 to 1958. Don married Carol Raetz in Marion. Together they had two children, Ronald and Kathy. They later divorced. He worked at Wilson Foods in Cedar Rapids. Don later worked as a fireman in Cedar Rapids for 30 years while also working at Sears for 26 years. He moved to Decorah after retirement. Don married Anita Balik on Aug. 3, 1996. He enjoyed walking his beloved pets, dominos, Monday night cards, fireman stags in Cedar Rapids, going to fairs, sporting events and taking care of his yard.
Don is survived by his wife, Anita Schantz, Fort Atkinson; son, Ronald (Christine) Schantz, Cedar Rapids; Tonya Balik, Spillville, Jerita (Matt) Burreson, Houston, Texas, and Scott Balik, Spillville; grandchildren, Austin Schantz, Sydney (Jake) McDonald, Ashley (Matt) Studt, Nick Everhart, and Ava and Emma Burreson; great-grandchild, Eisley Studt; three brothers, Dean (Kit) Schantz, Winterset, Larry (Linda) Schantz, Amana, and Paul (Kim) Schantz, Center Point; one sister, Marilyn Whitney, Winthrop; sister-in-law, Garnita (Tom) Erickson, Decorah; along with many nieces and nephews; and his beloved pets, Annie, Wrigley, Oreo and Lyla.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Carlton and Darleen; daughter, Kathy; brother-in-law, Duane Whitney; mother- and father-in-law, Emil and Hazel Ludwig; and nephews, Tim and Tom Schantz.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Calmar Lutheran Church, 200 East St., Calmar, IA 52132; or the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa, 903 Fifth Ave., Decorah, IA 52101.
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