Ervin Jantz, 89

Ervin Jantz, 89, was born on Feb. 3, 1925, to Daniel B. and Adell Gunda (Yost) Jantz on the plains of Copeland, Kan.

He peacefully passed away on March 24, 2014. at Sunset Home, Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

The funeral service was held in the Mountain View Congregation at Bonners Ferry on March 27, 2014. Officiating ministers were Ben Nystrom, Willis Dyck, Glenn Ensz, Roger Unruh, Les Isaac, and Mark Unruh. Interment was in the nearby Church cemetery.

School days were spent in Haskell County Grade and Rural School, including Colusa School.

Ervin’s early childhood and teen years were spend in Kansas, coinciding with the Depression and Dust Bowl era in which drought, hardships, and poverty formed lasting impressions and indelible scenes which he long recounted as never to be forgotten.

It seems that these circumstances forged in him a serious approach to life and created skills enabling him to industriously persevere through difficult times.

In August 1942 at 17 Ervin moved with his family to Bonners Ferry. The 10 children and the dog rode in the back of a truck under a tarp along with the furniture all the way from western Kansas. They knew nothing about modern air conditioning.

The first place they settled was on Meadow Creek and various places on the North Bench. Making firewood up Camp Nine, apple picking in Washington, working for farmers, and cutting railroad ties were all jobs he enjoyed in the fresh air of north Idaho.

Life changed for Ervin during winter 1944 while attending a series of revival meetings held in the fledgling congregation at Bonners Ferry in Odes Unruh’s house when he gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite in February by Minister Ervin Harms.

Within a month of his baptism, he was classified by the Draft Board as 1-W, conscientious status. Places of service were Curlew, Idaho, Belton, Montana, and St. Mary’s Glacier National Park. These 28 months of service with room and board plus $5 provided by the Mennonite Central Committee was during World War II – times of testing and enjoyment as he shared life with many other young men.

These experiences of spiritual growth mixed with lively happenings were precious to Ervin and were recounted repeatedly through the years. He would often say that these were the best years of his life.

After CPS days, Ervin contemplated an opportunity to go abroad with a load of cattle to Europe for the MCC. He chose instead to propose to Minister Enoch Dirk’s youngest daughter, Doris. She consented. They were married on June 15, 1947, and enjoyed 66 years together. Doris was the queen of his heart. To this union were born four daughters and two sons.

They lived on several different locations on the North Bench. On December 7, 1949, they moved onto the newly purchased Ed Gross place. Here they cleared land for crops and operated a small dairy. Ervin continued to hold down a job at the sawmill or in construction. But what he really enjoyed was his years logging. He hesitantly retired from the woods before he turned 81.

In November 1958 Ervin was ordained to the deaconry. He and Doris served for 47 years. Ervin loved the church and its people. He felt he learned from his elder deacon, Henry Amoth.

Ervin was a keen observer of people and nature, sometimes saying, “Just watch and learn.”

He seemed to possess a certain vision and perception to foresee troubles ahead and how they could be sometimes avoided. His compassion and concern for his family extended to any acquaintance he might meet. The community became his neighborhood, and the neighborhood became his backyard, so to speak. He faithfully taught that we should not be partial in our judgements, and that if there was a need, it should be met.

Ervin believed in a simply, orderly life. Conservative and timely, you could almost set a clock by his activities at times.

Through the years, his sense of humor, pealing laugh, and sudden soaring outbreaks of “Joy to the World” at any season blessed our lives.

A man of conviction, Ervin’s faith did not seem to waiver. In spite of disappointments at times in himself and others, he would say, “Let’s not lose faith…there’ll be a way.” Before his final failing days, he expressed his desire and readiness to go Home and had a prayer of inspired committal of all to his heavenly Father.

Recently when receiving a bouquet of flowers, Ervin said, “I’m not a flower man.” The truth is, he was color blind and hard of hearing. So what really meant something to him was meaningful, one-to-one conversation.

Ervin and Doris had eagerly awaited moving into Sunset Home. Their dream came true in March 2013, where they resided and he was lovingly cared for by the workers and volunteers.

Left to cherish fond memories are his loving wife, Doris, four daughters; Delores, Bonners Ferry; Phyllis and Gilbert Toews, Sexsmith, Alberta; Virginia and Kenneth Unruh, Bonners Ferry; Juanita, Bonners Ferry; James and Judy, Vale, Ore.; Andrew and Gayla, Grandview, Idaho; 22 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren; sisters Gladys Null, Charleston, WV; Martha and Raymond Friesen, St. Mary’s Ontario; brother Johnny, San Bruno, Calif.; three sisters-in-law Martha Dirks; Opal Dirks; and Marjorie Unruh all of Bonners Ferry, and a host of relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, three sisters, 13 brothers-in-law and eight sisters-in-law.