Robert Lantz

Robert “Bob” Eugene Lantz, 88, of Brooklyn, passed away at 3:23 AM, Wednesday, January 24, 2018, at Culbertson Memorial Hospital in Rushville.

He was born on July 14, 1929, in Brooklyn Township, Schuyler County, Illinois, the son of Eugene Horney and Gary Marie (Hite) Lantz.  He married Patricia “Patsy” Hamilton, on November 5, 1949, at the Methodist Church in Augusta.

Surviving are his wife Patsy, three children Vicky (Dr. Demir) Saka of Quincy, Dr. Patrick (Dr. Shelley Kreiter) Lantz, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Dona Lantz of Columbus, Ohio, three grandsons Nicolas Lantz and wife Victoria, Andrew Aguilera and wife Liz and Erik Saka and fiancée Bridget Durkin, one great granddaughter Emory Rose Aguilera, one sister Eleanor “Polly” Smith of Quincy, and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

Bob graduated from Augusta High School in 1947.  He first farmed and worked as a carpenter.  In 1962, he began his career with the USDA Soil and Water Conservation Service.  He worked at the offices in Carthage, Pittsfield, Macomb, Carbondale and Champaign retiring in 1987.  He received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agronomy from the University of Illinois in 1967.

He was a member of the Brooklyn United Methodist Church, served on the Brooklyn Township Board, and a member of the Camden Masonic Lodge # 648.  He was a member of the Culbertson Memorial Hospital Board and the Culbertson Memorial Hospital Foundation Board.  He also volunteered as a valet and patient escort at the hospital.  He was a former member of the Lions, Kiwanis, and Rotary Clubs in different towns where he lived.

He enjoyed hosting family and community get togethers and fish fries, where they would make homemade apple butter, cider, sorghum molasses and maple syrup.  He enjoyed many different interest including blacksmithing and woodworking.  He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, reading and attended many track and cross country meets.

Services will be at 10:00 AM, Monday, January 29, 2018, at the Wood Funeral Home in Rushville, with Reverend Charles Peart officiating.  Interment will be in the Brooklyn Cemetery in Brooklyn.  Visitation will be from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Sunday, January 28, 2018, at the Wood Funeral Home in Rushville.  Memorials are suggested to the Brooklyn Cemetery or the Culbertson Memorial Hospital Foundation.