Conrad W Lantz

Conrad W. Lantz passed away peacefully on August 25, 2025, at sunrise. Conrad was a great man who truly loved people. He was genuinely interested in learning, meeting new people, and wanted to make life better for everyone that he met. Conrad was born July 16, 1938, in Rockford, IL and attended Wight Grade School and Lincoln Middle School. He graduated from Rockford East High School with several varsity letters. He was awarded the American Legion Scholastic Athlete Senior Award. He also participated in the State track meet and was sports editor of the Highlights newspaper. Once an E-Rab, Always an E-Rab! In 1960, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a BS in Accountancy. He was a proud member of the Acacia Fraternity, Interfraternity Council and the ROTC. He was sports editor of the Daily Illini. Os-ke-wow-wow Illinois! Upon graduation, he became an officer in the United States Marine Corps from 1960-1963. He earned the best rifle shot in his officer's training. He was stationed at Quantico, VA, and Barstow, CA, where he was a supply officer and served during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He left as a Captain in the reserves. Semper Fi! Conrad married Linda Butler Lantz on September 11, 1960, in Rockford. They met in high school at Churchill Park. Their first date was at the Coronado Theater to see Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - they celebrated that date 70 years later on Rockford 815 day 2024. After the Marine Corps, Conrad and Linda returned to Rockford to be close to their parents. Conrad earned his CPA and worked for Coopers and Lybrand, Smith Oil, Hollywood Restaurants, and Nelson-Carlson Contractors over his career as an accountant and executive. In 1990, he purchased Select Vending and spent the remainder of his career filling vending machines and doing what he loved - meeting and talking to people. In retirement, he worked as a substitute teacher again to meet and talk to more people. Conrad and Linda had 3 children together - David (Deena), Steven (Suzanne) and Joan (Kurt) Schiffer. Conrad loved his 6 grandchildren - Alyssa Lantz, Jessie (JJ) Leal, Andrew Lantz, Brynn Hendricks, Kourtney Schiffer and Joseph Schiffer. He also loved his fellow Illini and niece, Ann (Tom) Finnegan. He was so proud of his family. He went to almost every football and softball game, swim meet, Valkyries performance, award ceremony for his children and most of his grandchildren's events too! Conrad and Linda enjoyed spending all of their days together as partners in life and faith. They traveled to all 50 states together. In retirement, Conrad enjoyed spending time with Linda at their cottage at Jordan Lake in Wisconsin almost every weekend from May to October. He was a proud pontoon boat captain, and he loved to have friends and family visit the cottage with them. Over the years, Conrad participated in and held leadership positions in a multitude of benevolent organizations - too many to mention. He served as a leader and on many committees with Masonic Lodge 102, Boys Scouts Troop 41, Shriner's Tebala Temple, and Westminster Presbyterian Church. He was also involved in the National and Illinois Restaurant Associations, Winnebago County Republican Party, Loves Park Fire and Police Pension Board, and his neighborhood HOA. He coached the Westminster Saints youth flag football team throughout the 70s and 80s. He helped start the Rock River Valley Pantry, he read the newspaper to the blind at Northern Illinois Radio Information Services, he donated gallons of blood at the Rock River Valley Blood Center, and he raised funds for the East High School girls' softball field. Conrad contributed to so many civic organizations lending his experience, advice and tireless work ethic. Conrad was predeceased by his father and mother, Roy and Florence Lantz, whom he loved dearly, his parents in law, LeRoy and Esther Butler, his brother-in-law and sister in law, Ralph and Marjorie Butler, nephew Tim Butler, and Steven's girlfriend, Suzanne Rafalsky. Conrad's family would like to thank the kind doctors, nurses and staff at Mercy Hospital and Cancer Center and St. Anne's who cared for Conrad throughout his various treatments. Conrad, being an only child, was lucky to have many cousins, in-laws, friends, neighbors, colleagues, business associates, fellow volunteers, community supporters, and church members to whom he could tell his stories, learn about a variety of topics, recite facts and figures, and share his love of the Cubs, Bears, Illini, E-Rabs, and Rockford. His joy for life, positive attitude, sharp memory and concern for others were still going strong up to his passing. Visitation for Conrad will be on Saturday, September 27th at 9 am followed by his Service at 11 am at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rockford, IL. His family would like to have any memorial contributions given in Conrad's honor to one of the many organizations he loved - Westminster Presbyterian Church, Shriner's Hospital, Boy Scouts of America and Vets Roll. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Conrad W Lantz, please visit our floral store.