Eunice Lantz

Eunice Lantz, 86, of Fairfield died Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at Jefferson County Health Center in Fairfield, Iowa. The family will be holding a private memorial service.

Eunice was born on April 25th, 1929 in Wooton, KY to Pearl and Lois DeKalb. The family moved to Fairfield when she was very young. She graduated from Fairfield High School, attended Parsons College and taught country school at Farson and Salina until her marriage to Don Lantz. She grew up in town, but after marrying ‘Donnie’ in 1951, threw herself wholeheartedly into life on an Iowa farm: raising chickens, milking cows, driving tractors, churning butter, making cottage cheese, lye soap & grapenuts and baking the best cinnamon rolls ever . Don and Eunice farmed near Salina for a number of years, then owned an insurance agency in Fairfield until their retirement. Eunice led an active life that included playing baseball with her brothers as a child to attending aqua exercises at the YMCA in Washington, IA for 16 years later in life. She loved the 4th of July fireworks and participated personally whenever possible. Eunice was a member of the New Sweden Methodist Church and was active in the church as a leader of the MYF youth group and a member of the WSCS ladies group. Animals were a big part of her life and included Gracie the pony, Beauty the horse, Tortie the tortoise, Hewie & Lewie the ducks and Pixie the black cocker spaniel that she rescued as a pup when she was a child getting up every two hours during the night to bottle feed her. Eunice enjoyed camping in state and federal parks around the country with Don, gardening, a wide range of arts & crafts, spending time with family and attending her grandchildren’s many various events which included sports, theater and music. She was quite talented artistically and left behind several creations for her family to enjoy that included water color paintings, pencil sketches and hand painted Easter eggs.

Eunice is survived by her children; a daughter Susan Adam and husband Charlie of La Belle, MO; a son Tim Lantz and wife Dee Ann of Fairfield; a daughter Nancy Parr and husband Joseph of Fairfield; and seven grandchildren Adam, Sara, Matt, Mason, Jacob, Caitlin & Elijah and one great grandson, Miles.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Don and her brothers, Victor DeKalb, Howard DeKalb & Francis DeKalb. Donations can be made in her name to Noah’s Ark in Fairfield, IA.