William George Bantz was born March 15, 1926 at Howe, Nebraska. One of eight children of William F. and Helen L. (Chapman) Bantz, Bill attended Center School near Howe and graduated from Auburn High School in Auburn, Nebraska.
In July of 1944 Bill joined the U. S. Navy and served in the states and the Asiatic Pacific Theater until his honorable discharge in June of 1946. Following his service Bill returned to Nebraska and farmed.
After his marriage to Patricia Moore in 1947, Bill and Pat lived in Maryville, Missouri where he worked as a carpenter and contractor, building many homes and businesses in the area. They moved to California in 1964, and Bill was employed in the maintenance department of the Hacienda-La Puente School District until his retirement in 1988.
Bill passed away in La Mirada, California on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at the age of 84 years and 22 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Twyla Heskett, and brothers Larry, Arnold, Raymond, and Robert.
Bill is survived by his daughters Kimberly and husband James Essington of Leawood, KS; Kristin and husband Robert Gomez of Overland Park, KS; grandchildren Cole and Kerri Essington; Dalton and Dillon Gomez; former wife Patricia Bantz of Overland Park, KS; brothers Lee Bantz of Whittier, CA, Clinton (Glenny) Bantz of Auburn; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be Saturday, April 17, 1:30 p.m. at Hemmingsen Funeral Home in Auburn, followed by military honors provided by American Legion Post #23 and VFW Post #2635 of Auburn. No visitation is planned, and burial of ashes will be at a later date at Bedford Cemetery at Howe, NE.
Memorials are suggested to cancer research.