John B. Jantz, son of Benjamin and Anna Becker Jantz, was born March 1, 1852, in the village of Antonofka, near Ostrog, in the government of Wolhynia, Russia.
He was baptized upon his confession of faith in Christ Jesus as his Savior on August 23, 1869, by the Elder Tobias Unruh, and thereby joined the Mennonite church.
He was joined in holy matrimony with Maria Becker on November 22, 1873, the Elder Tobias Unruh performing the ceremony.
In the year 1874, they as a young couple, immigrated from Russia to America, and settled at Halstead, Kansas. Here his dear wife died and also a son in his infancy.
He was later married to Elisabeth Thomas on April 30, 1882, the Elder Johann Ratzlaff officiating at the ceremony. this union was blessed with 18 children, of which 4 died in their infancy and one daughter Susie, Mrs. Joe Base, passed away when she was 25 years of age.
They first made their home near Halstead, Kansas. After a couple of years they moved to McPherson County, Kansas, near Moundridge, where they resided till the year 1892, when they moved to Oklahoma, near Pauls Valley.
In the year 1902 they again moved to about 12 miles southeast of Carnegie, Oklahoma. Here they settled on a prairie homestead, and once more experienced pioneer life in a new settlement. This they made their permanent stay and soon built a beautiful home to accommodate their large family.
It was here where all their children grew to man and womanhood, and from where one by one left to start their own home with some one else in life.
He was a progressive farmer, with great ambition and zeal, and was esteemed as an honest and outstanding neighbor in this community.
In the spiritual realm he also acknowledged his faith by works in building the kingdom of God in church work.
When the Greenfield Mennonite congregation was organized he became one of the charter members and held his membership here through life. He was concerned not only that his children should have some education, but they should also have a religious training according to the Word of God.
During the last few years he felt that his work here upon earth had been fulfilled and he expressed a longing to go to that great home for all eternity.
The last two years he was failing in health and on Saturday, march 5, he became seriously ill and quietly passed away on Sunday morning, March 6, at 12:20 a.m. He attained the ripe old age of 86 years and 5 days.
He leaves to mourn his departure his dear wife, who has been a life companion to him for nearly 56 years and with whom he shared in joy and sorrow to the end of his life, seven sons and six daughters, who are all married. They are as follows:
Peter J., Maryville, Missouri; Lena, Mrs. Harvey Harrell, Slick, Oklahoma; Ben J., Chickasha, Oklahoma; Minnie, Mrs. Henry Schmidt; Mary, Mrs. H. J. Schmidt; and Samuel J., Carnegie, Oklahoma; Cornelius J., William J. and Lewis, Ft. Cobb, Oklahoma; Dan, Okla. City, Oklahoma; Annie, Mrs. Andy Fogelstrom, Malaga, Washington; Kate, Mrs. H. H. Unruh Meno, Oklahoma; and Phillbena, Mrs. Simon Janz, Inola, Oklahoma; 2 brothers: Tobias B. Jantz, Greensburg, Kansas and Adam B. Jantz, Golty, Oklahoma.
Two sisters: Mary, Mrs. Henry Koehn, Fairview, Oklahoma and Karolina, Mrs. Will Unruh, Newton, Kansas; 65 living grandchildren; 8 grandchildren have preceded him in death and 13 great-grandchildren of whom one also preceded him in death.
Remaining are also a host of relatives and friends, who hope to meet him in glory with Christ Jesus the savior of mankind for all eternity.
Funeral services were held on Friday afternoon, March 11, from the Greenfield church and his body was laid to rest in the nearby cemetery. – The Family.