Irvin Wayne Jantz

Irvin Wayne Jantz was born to John and Lydia Jantz on December 14, 1938 in Merced, California.  He passed away January 31, 2017 at his home in Dewey, Arizona.  Irvin was in hospice care for complications from diabetes.  He was 78 years of age at the time of his death. 

Born into the Mennonite faith, Irvin was the youngest of 10 children in his family.  He was born in a home his family rented from a woman affectionately named "Shotgun Kate."  It was a one story farm house without running water or electricity.  Later his father purchased their own farm house with hot running water!  Although they had this luxury, the house did not have heating, so his mother Lydia woke every morning to start the wood stove and burned peach pits as fuel to warm the family. 

His parents and siblings worked as farmers in the agricultural areas of central California. Irvin grew up speaking Dutch, as most Mennonite families spoke at the time, and had difficulty learning English once he started school.  Eventually overcoming the language obstacles, he attended Livingston High School. 

Irvin fell away from the Church in his teenage years but eventually made his way back to the Faith in 2012.   

The many years in between then and now is where the below story begins: 

Irvin married Twila Faye Riley on September 26, 1964.  They had daughters Kayla Katherine and Tondi Marie, born in California and Eric Wayne, born in Virginia.  Irvin started out driving semi trucks for Keller Industries, an aluminum manufacturing company producing windows, ladders and doors  in Merced, California.  He was promoted over the years to eventually hold the title of  General Manager of Manufacturing for the East Coast Division.  His job took the family to several states, including Virginia, Iowa, Georgia and Kentucky.  

In 1981 he left Keller Industries, moved back to California and went in to the trucking business with his brother Lloyd Jantz.  Income from the trucking company was not enough to support the family, so in 1983 he moved to Prescott, Arizona to be Plant Manager for the window factory Better-Bilt Aluminum.  Irvin work at Better-Bilt for 17 years and simultaneously managed his own small trucking company and purchased the almond farm and farm house his father once owned in California.  

Irvin retired from Better-Bilt in 1998 but kept his trucking and farm businesses going for 10 additional years.  He would still own his family farm today had it not been for CalTrans using imminent domain to build a freeway, eating up most of his acreage. 

Irvin was known for his relentless work ethic and compulsion for perfectionism.  Better-Bilt employees joked that a person could eat off the factory floor they were so spick and span. He used toothbrushes and Q-tips when washing his Peterbilt trucks, making sure every nook and cranny was as sparkling as the chrome stacks he spent hours polishing. 

Generosity was his second nature.  It was commonplace for Irvin to buy meals for those in need he came across in truck stops while hauling loads across the country.  He would at times give even when it meant that he and his family would be left with very little.  He was literally the man who would give you food off his plate or clothes off his back. 

When Irvin was not working he loved socializing. Nothing was better than a kitchen table, a cup of Folgers and a friend to talk to.  He did have a desire to travel in his retirement years.  There were many places he wanted to visit but his health prevented those excursions.  

Although Irvin did not get the opportunity to travel the world, he did take the most important journey of his life and that was returning to the Lord in 2012.  He rededicated his life to the Mennonite faith.  His wife Twila also joined the Church.  This was a huge commitment as it not only affected how they were to live their lives going forward, but to also examine their past behaviors and make right any wrongs they had committed. 

Irvin took the task of answering for his transgressions very seriously.  He contacted each person in his life asking for forgiveness for anything he had ever done that was hurtful.  At that time, a man in his early 70s, Irvin even reflected upon the days of his youth and tracked down friends and enemies alike to ask forgiveness of his sins. 

At the end of his life, the only accomplishment he desired was to be a man of faith and to see the magnificence of Heaven. 

Irvin is survived by his wife Twila Jantz (Dewey, AZ); his daughter Tondi Hobaica and husband Mark (Henderson, NV) and son Eric Jantz and his wife Emma (Dewey, AZ).  Of his nine siblings, his is survived by one, John Jantz (Winton, CA).  His surviving grandchildren are: Crystal Metcalf (Prescott Valley, AZ); Douglas Wagers (Dewey, AZ); Jessica Jantz (Phoenix, AZ) and Hailey Madison Jantz (Dewey, AZ).  From these grandchildren, Irvin was blessed with four great grand children; David Wagers, Nathan Metcalf, Jason Metcalf and Michelle Wagers. 

Irvin is proceeded in death by his daughter Kayla Wagers and his son-in-law Fred Wagers.  He has had three sisters and five brothers proceed him in passing.  

Irvin will be transported to Winton, California for additional services and final burial.  For more information call Wilson Family Funeral Chapel at 208-358-7700.