E. Joyce Lantzer, 75, of Kalkaska, passed away on Sunday, May 20, 2012, at Munson Medical Center, surrounded by her loving family and friends. She was born to the late Ward and Neta (Hart) Butler on April 20, 1937, in South Boardman.
She spent her childhood doing farm chores with her dad on their family farm and caring for her horse and many other beloved pets. It was there that she learned many lessons about cooking and life from her adored mom.
Joyce graduated from Kalkaska High School in 1955 and married Bruce Lantzer on June 17, 1955, in Old Mission. The pair shared a faithful love and countless adventures during the next 48 years before Bruce’s passing, including times living at an Oklahoma Army base and in a rustic Alaskan cabin along the railroad in Chugiak, raising their kids and many camping trips and travels to Alaska, Texas, Wyoming, Florida, the U.P., and other places.
Joyce devoted her life to her family, church and community. She volunteered at the Kalkaska Memorial Health Center, worked at the Kalkaska Church of Christ as secretary and then at Wolfe-O’Neill Funeral Home and proudly cheered for her grandchildren at all of their sporting events and activities. Somehow she still found time to bake her famous apple pies for a charity (which still holds the record for earnings), care for many friends, shop for bargains, travel, and in later years even show her wild side by taking up riding motorcycles with friends and kayaking with family! She was always happy and busy.
Surviving Joyce are her children, Gary (Carol) Lantzer, Dale A. (Kathy) Lantzer and Jeff (Erin) Lantzer; her dear grandchildren, Jeremy, Ryan, Lindsay, Kevin, Hannah, Tara and Alyssa; and nine great-grandchildren.
Visitation for family wand friends will be held today, May 23 from 5to9pm, at Wolfe-O’Neill FuneraL Home. The funeral service will be a t11am on Thur, at the Kalkaska Church of Christ, with Dan Johnson officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Evergreen Cemetery. After burial, family and friends are welcome and encouraged to join in a funeral dinner back at the church for food and stories about Joyce’s wonderful life!
