Obituary of Robert E. Gantz

Robert E. Gantz, Sr., age 84, of Manheim, PA, passed away on Saturday morning, January 13, 2013 at the Mount Hope Nazarene Retirement Community in Manheim. Born in Manheim, Robert was the son of the late Jacob O. & Ella Kopp Gantz. He was married to Miriam E. Sweigart Gantz and they would have celebrated 66 years of marriage in April of this year. Robert worked as a foundry worker for the former Fuller Company for 34 years and then worked in the bindery for Intell Printing for 6 years until he retired. In his younger years, Robert enjoyed raising rabbits and pigeons. He was known in and around Manheim for his Parlor Rollers, pigeons that rolled but did not fly. He acquired many ribbons and trophies from pigeon competitions and enjoyed showing them to children and adults alike. Robert also enjoyed wordworking, and over the years, gave away hundreds of bird houses which he constructed and painted. He was a member of Manheim Brethren in Christ Church and participated in the Fellowship Club of the church. In addition to driving Amish children to school, occasionally he drove for Love INC., helping others to and from appointments. He was hard working and served his family and others in many ways. He was quite the jokester, making people laugh at his antics, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Surviving are his wife and four children; Robert E. Gantz, Jr.; Linda M., wife of W. David White; Timothy R., and Kathy A., wife of Timothy N. Sauder, all of Manheim; seven grandchildren; Megan L., wife of John Chism, and parents of John David and Vivian, Brynn M., wife of Neal Hammer, Cortney L., wife of Dalton Milbourne, and parents of Makayla and Rylan, Colton T. Sauder, fiancée of Beth Trovato, Seth R. Gantz, husband of Sarah, and parents of Norah and Emma, Ian B. Gantz, husband of Ashley, and parents of Brice, and Lucas T. Gantz; and two brothers, Edward, husband of Georgeann Gantz, and Frank, husband of Brenda Gantz, all of Manheim. He was preceded in death by a son, Ronald L. Gantz, five brothers, and seven sisters. A funeral service will be held on Thursday afternoon, January 17, 2013 at 2:00 PM at Manheim Brethren in Christ Church, 54 North Penryn Road, Manheim, PA. Private interment will be in the East Fairview Church of the Brethren Cemetery, Manheim. The family will receive guests at the church on Thursday afternoon from 12:30 PM until the time of the service. Please omit flowers. If desired, contributions may be made to Mount Hope Nazarene Retirement Community, 3026 Mount Hope Home Road, Manheim, PA 17545 or to American Lung Association, 3001 Gettysburg Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011. A webcast of the service will be available the day following the service at www.spencefuneralservices.com.