Tschantz, William P. (1867-1957)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Jun 20 p. 5

Birth date: 1867

text of obituary:

Octogenarian Dies At Bluffton

Bluffton, Ohio. — William P. Tschantz, well-known octogenarian of the Dalton community, died at the Community hospital here June 14 at the age of 81. Funeral services were to be held Sunday afternoon at the Salem Mennonite Church near Dalton.

In recent months Mr. Tschantz had been a resident of the Mennonite Memorial Home here. He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Austin Keiser of Ashland, and two sons, Milton of Greenwich, Ohio and Clayton of Wooster.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Jun 27 p. 8

text of obituary:

WILLIAM P. TSCHANTZ

William P. Tschantz, son of Christian and Anna Tschantz, was the last survivor of a family of four sons, four daughters and one step-daughter. He came to the age of 89 years, 9 months and 17 days.

Until his passing, he and Mrs. Mathilda Fankhauser were the only survivors of a class of eight young people who were the first group to be baptized into the membership of the Salem Mennonite church of Dalton, Ohio. This took place on December 1, 1886 during the session of a conference being held in the the newly organized church. The rite of baptism was administered by the Rev. S. F. Sprunger, who used as his text Romans 12:12.

Mr. Tschantz remained an active and interested member of this church to the day of his passing. He was for many years a member of the board of trustees, and a few years ago he held the unusual record of not having missed a session of the Sunday School for fifteen years.

Mr. Tschantz was born on the same farm situated in Paint Township, Wayne county, Ohio, where he spent the major part of his life. During the past 21 months he lived in the Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton, Ohio. As a testimony to the efficient, friendly Christian home environment of this institution it needs to be said that he was very happy in this home. In his weekly letters to his daughter he would relate all the daily activities and tell about the visitors who came to call in the home.

He was an ardent listener to many devotional programs as they came over the radio, and he read widely about the activities of the total program of the Mennonite Church.

On December 29, 1892 he was united in marriage to Eliza Nussbaum, who preceded him in death by 17 years. to this union were born six children, three of whom died in infancy. He was later married to Mrs. Carline Sprunger, who passed away a little less than a year ago.

Mr. Tschantz leaves to mourn his departure one daughter Elrena, the wife of Austin R. Keiser of Ashland, Ohio; two sons, Milton of Greenwich and Clayton of Mansfield; and three step-children: Della Burkhart of Findlay, Goldie Wurgler of Seville, and Gordon Sprunger of the Dalton area. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, a few cousins, a number of nephews and nieces and a host of faithful friends.

The Mennonite obituary: 1957 Jul 9 p. 418