John Tschantz

John William Tschantz

Born 9/13/1927 Des Moines, Iowa

Died 4/19/2023 Grass Valley, California

My father was a very 'can do' individual. As a young boy he raised rabbits to sell, and made his own scooter out of leftover 2x4s and a broken roller skate. At 15 he bought his first car, a 1931 Pontiac for $15 and painted it himself. At 17 he earned his pilot's license, paying for lessons from a $65 an hour job.

He graduated from Iowa State as an engineer and was on the school debate team, training him for a future in public speaking, conference leading, and storytelling.

He married Gloria Grobeck in 1951. Went to work for Caterpillar tractor company in 1952. In 1965 he moved with his wife and four children to Geneva, Switzerland until 1972. There he gave his family a very interesting chapter in their lives, learning new languages and traveling all over Europe.During this time he took business trips to 58 countries mostly in Europe the Middle East and Africa. His favorite destination was Beirut, Lebanon, the'Switzerland of the Middle East'. He loved playing golf in France and Switzerland in view of the Alps. He was famous for his Oktoberfest parties!

He retired from Caterpillar in 1989 as department head of defense products and moved to Arizona. After my mom's passing in 2002 he remarried Dory Grobeck in 2004.

In 2020 he moved to California to be close to one of his sons. Even as his health and memory deteriorated he always had a sunny disposition and a song on his lips.

Dad died peacefully in his sleep with his favorite 1940s music playing and his family around him.

He is survived by his wife Dory, his sons Larry and Tim Tschantz , his daughter Kate Strong, and his three grandchildren Hannah and Coleman Strong, and Julia Tschantz.