James Gantert

Jim passed away peacefully at the age of 96 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and joined his beloved wife, Joanne, on March 18, 2026. Jim was born in Parsons, Kansas to Leo and Claudia "Cloie" Gantert. His fraternal twin brother, Gene, came into the world shortly after him. His dad worked for the Katy Railroad, and Jim, by all accounts, had an idyllic childhood growing up with Gene and his older brother, Jack, in Parsons during the Depression and World War II.

Jim graduated from high school and immediately enlisted in the Navy where he served three years as a second-class quartermaster on a tanker ship during the early days of the Korean War. After an honorable discharge, he enrolled at Pittsburg State University, not far from his childhood home, and earned a degree in print production and typography. His next adventure was roaming the country while working in the composing rooms of the nation's newspapers, big and small. With his International Typographical Union card, he could always count on finding a good-paying job "setting type" wherever his heart took him next.

On December 31, 1962, he met Joanne on a blind date in Parsons, and he decided that his wandering days were over. They married in July and made Prairie Village, Kansas their home where he lived for nearly 60 years. They raised two daughters, Laura Beth and Emily Anne, to whom he was a devoted father. Jim continued working in the printing industry, first at Smith-Grieves Printing and then at Action Type, a partnership he and his friends from S-G started in 1982. After years of working in a field he thoroughly enjoyed, Jim retired in 1994.

During his retirement years, he enjoyed socializing with friends he and Joanne had made through their jobs and church, traveling the country, and bicycling, including an epic ride as a Bike Across Kansas participant in 1995. Joanne passed away in 2000. He then pursued new solo adventures, most notably a sky-diving jump in 2019 to celebrate turning 90. He moved to Albuquerque in 2023 to be closer to one of his daughters.

Jim loved the simple things in life like being outdoors in the summertime and sharing a delicious meal with family and friends. He enjoyed listening to NPR and instrumental music, especially jazz. He took great pride in whatever he was working on and exhibited a rare sense of determination and unparalleled work ethic. He would happily lend a helping hand to friends or strangers in need and donated blood well into his late 80s. He loved reading, possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of history and current events, and was a gifted and spirited conversationalist who could enliven any subject with his broad and fascinating knowledge of seemingly everything. He campaigned for Democratic candidates in local and state elections where Republicans had dominated for decades, and he enthusiastically celebrated every time a Democrat was elected as President. For many years, he shared the happenings in his life by writing a Dickens-style Christmas letter, which captured Jim's way with words and his unique and entertaining perspective on life. He had a delightful dry wit that was always accompanied by his warm smile.

He was one of a kind, and he will be greatly missed.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife Joanne, his parents Leo and Claudia Gantert, his brother Jack Gantert, and his brother Gene Gantert and wife Mignon. His sister-in-law Naomi Gantert died a few days after him. Jim is survived by his two daughters, Laura Ferrara and her husband of Baltimore, Maryland, and Emily Kienzle and her husband of Albuquerque, New Mexico, seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many other family members. He was especially beloved by those who called him Grandad or Uncle Jim.

A special thanks to all the caregivers involved in assisting Jim during the past three years. A private memorial and burial are being planned in Kansas at a later date.