Hartford City
William E. Schantz, 89, passed away Sunday, June 15, 2014 in
I. U. Health Ball Memorial Hospital.
Bill was born in Beech Grove, Indiana February 9, 1925 to
Edward J. and Emma (Schlick) Schantz and lived most of his life in Hartford
City. He graduated from Hartford City High School in 1942, attended Purdue
University and graduated from Tri-State University with a degree in drafting
and engineering. Then he worked as a draftsman at Lear Corp., Piqua, Ohio,
during the war.
On July 22, 1950 he married Patricia McCaffrey in St. John
the Evangelist Catholic Church.
Bill was the owner of Hartford Concrete Products for 50
years, a company started by his father, Edward Schantz. At his retirement he
sold the company to his employees. Hartford Concrete was more than a job to
Bill – it was an important way he invested in the community and his employees
were important to him.
He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
and the Knights of Columbus #1639.
Bill was a member of the board of directors of the original
Citizen’s First State Bank and served on the Hartford City Library Board. He
was a founding member of Blackford Community Choir and also sang in the church
choir for over 50 years.
Surviving are: his wife, Patricia; a son, John (Trudy) Ryan,
Logansport; five daughters, Laura (Randy) Baird, Fremont, Kathryn (Todd)
Helmke, Fort Wayne, Joanne (Greg) Leach, Angola, Karen (Rich) Uggen, Hartford
City and Julie (Paul) McCarthy, Carmel; grandchildren, Shelley Haines, Sean Ryan,
Ashley Hetherington, Elamie Hartman, Brittany Helmke, Austin Helmke, Chad
Helmke, Evan Leach, Lauren Leach, Landon Leach, Anya Uggen, Ammee Uggen, Max
Uggen, Will Uggen and Luke McCarthy and six great-grandchildren.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father
Dave Newton at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 19 in St. John the Evangelist Catholic
Church, 209 S. Spring St. Hartford City. Burial will follow in Hartford City
Cemetery.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 18 at
Waters Funeral Home, 501 W. Washington St. Hartford City and on Thursday, June
19 from 10 – 10:30 a.m.
A Christian Wake Service will be at the funeral home at 2
p.m. Wednesday.
Memorials may be made in the form of masses, the donor’s favorite
charity or to Blackford County Community Foundation.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at
www.watersfuneralhomes.com.