Betty Gantz

MONTICELLO - Betty Jean (Engel) Gantz was born on March 29, 1923, to Wanona and Charles Cyrus Engel in Stewardson, a small southern Illinois town near Effingham. She died on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023.

The family will hold a private service.

In Stewardson, Betty Jean grew up with her siblings, Louann, Bill and Bob. Their father, (Cyrus), owned the lumber yard and hardware store, and their mother (Nona), ran the household, raised the kids and participated in village life after attending business school in Champaign.

Upon graduating from Eastern Illinois University, Betty Jean taught high school home economics, general science and physical education in DeLand.

After she spotted Howard Gantz (d. 2000) in the choir at the Methodist Church, marriage was soon to follow. They raised three children on a beautiful farm in central Piatt County, Jan Ellen Gantz (Stephen Lyons), Beth Annalee Manuel (Jess) and Steven Howard Gantz (Michele Dillavou). Howard and Betty, then Steven, farmed there until 2019.

Beth's sons, Brandon Brock (Kim) and Tyler Brock (Suzanna), inspired grandmotherly love in abundance. We are grateful for the attention shown to Mom by their respective families. Betty Jean has two great-grandchildren, Brayden Brock and Jonah Brock. Also adding pleasure to her life have been the families of Stephen's daughter, Rose Lyons Coan, and Jesse's daughters, Tricia Fritz and Amanda Manuel.

Betty Jean was active in the Home Extension organization and the Methodist Church, holding many leadership positions. She excelled as a Sunday school teacher, with her ability to pose important questions and foster thoughtful discussions with the youngsters. Her adult Friendship Class was a close-knit group who supported one another and the broader church, kept each other's kids in line, and laughed together through those weekly Sunday night potlucks.

Betty Jean was a lifelong reader of history, religion, art and philosophy. She had a curious mind and an introspective temperament. She had a creative streak and enjoyed decorating, textile arts and any hands-on cut-and-paste project. After typing class, however, she never touched a keyboard. Friends and relatives will miss her handwritten correspondence, which she continued throughout her final months. She always said she would rather put her thoughts in writing than talk on the phone.

Betty Jean moved from her retirement home on Oakview Drive in Monticello to the Villas of Hollybrook when it opened in 2013. She enjoyed living there from the beginning, spending many afternoons on her patio, welcoming the new residents and fussing to make her apartment as pretty as can be. Our deeply felt appreciation goes to executive directors Bill Geis (former) and Jackie Quinley, and to former Wellness Director Melanie Stevens, for their expert management and caretaking. We appreciate every staff member who gently touched our mother's life, knowing each of them made it that much easier for her to grow into late old age.

Mom's final days were spent at the Piatt County Nursing Home, where she again received expert care. Piatt County is fortunate to have this fine facility, currently administered by Scott Porter.

Memorials can be made to The Rotary Foundation, an organization much admired by both Betty Jean and Howard for its worldwide humanitarian work, at 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693, or  contact.center@rotary.org.

Condolences may be offered at mackey-wrightfuneralhome.com.