James W. Bantz

James W. Bantz

James W. Bantz, 79, of Westgate, died Wednesday, June 17, 2015, at his rural Westgate home.

Private family prayer service will be held at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner. Public visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, June 20, 2015 at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner. Private inurnment will take place at a later date at Hope Lutheran Cemetery, rural Westgate.

James Walter, son of Lyle and Dorothy (Howard) Bantz, was born September 10, 1935 in Waterloo, Iowa. He received his education in the Waterloo, Independence, and Fayette Public Schools, graduating from Fayette High School in 1953. He served in the Iowa and Wisconsin National Guard. On July 13, 1956, he was united in marriage with Janice Meyer, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Westgate. Jim was a cheese maker, having worked at creameries in Fredericksburg, Luana, and Preston. He worked for Fayette County for twenty-three years prior to retirement. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, and wood-working, and in retirement enjoyed baking.

In addition to his wife, Janice of Westgate, he is survived by four children, Joyce (Scott) Satterlee of Evansdale, John (Brenda) Bantz of Ham Lake, Minnesota, Joan (Jon) Wilhelmi of Maynard, and Jim (Lindy) Bantz of Westgate; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one sister, Janet (Howard) Meaney of Oelwein.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Ronald.

Royce Bantz on June 21, 2015 at 6:16 AM said:

Sorry for your loss, even tho im not directly related to you we are relation, my father was dan r bantz, he knew james and talked about him periodically, I know jim alittle from maynard where I live, again so sorry for your loss

Lois Shields on June 20, 2015 at 7:20 AM said:

So sorry to hear about Jim's passing. I have a lot of memories of the Bantz family when I worked at Center Valley. Keeping your family in my prayers.

Diean Sabin on June 19, 2015 at 5:35 PM said:

So sorry Janice for your loss he was always a lot of fun

Linda Ede Hiemstra on June 19, 2015 at 11:49 AM said:

I am so sorry to hear of the sadness in your family with Jim's passing.
I have soooooo many fond memories that stem back lots of years ago when I did a lot of babysitting for you and Jim.
I can remember like it was yesterday being so nervous to tell you guys that I was going to raise my babysitting price from 25 cents and hour to 35 cents an hour. Jim just looked at me and said "No problem, your worth it".

Mari Eitel on June 19, 2015 at 6:00 AM said:

So sorry to hear this news. Our families go back many years, also surrounding the Westgate Tap, card playing, babysitting, etc. R.I.P., Jim, my condolences to the family.

Walenceus Family (neighbor) on June 19, 2015 at 5:23 AM said:

We have been neighbors to Jim and Janice for the past 15 years and will miss him waving to us as they drive to Westgate to the Tap which was almost every night. Also, nothing tastes better than Jim's cabbage fried with onion and hamburger! Our prayers are with you.

Bill and Cheryl Rummel on June 19, 2015 at 5:17 AM said:

Janice and family, we are so very sorry to hear of Jim's passing and we send our sincere sympathies. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Sheryl Nading on June 19, 2015 at 5:13 AM said:

Thoughts and prayers to all of you.

Dale Skinner on June 18, 2015 at 8:39 PM said:

Jim and I were good friends in High school. Death and birth are the same thing, so Jim, have a great new adventure. ...Dale

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