Mrs. Jacob Shontz Dead

Mother of Well Known Family 
Passes Away Sunday Afternoon

  After a useful, Christian life which had extended thru 78 years, Mrs. Nancy Shontz died Sunday noon at the home of her son, E. L. Shontz, at Jerome. Her death was due to the decreasing vitality of old age.

  She leaves her sons, Wm. H., South Bend, Ind; Frank, Kankakee, Ill; John, Streeter, Ill; E. L. of Jerome, and a daughter, Mrs. Ella Pryon, of Kokomo, Ind.  Mrs. Shontz was long a resident of this county, being the wife of Jacob Shontz, who died several years ago. She was long a member of the Centerville Presbyterian church, being one of the early members of the organization. She was a woman of many exceptional qualities, a good wife, mother, friend and companion. She has been living with her daughter, but had lately returned to Iowa, where she preferred to pass her last days. The children were all present when she passed away. The funeral will be this afternoon at 1:30 at the First Presbyterian church, Centerville, preached by Rev. David McEwan, and burial beside her husband at Oakland cemetery. 

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Transcribed from 1903-1909 Semi-Weekly Iowegian Obituaries [Page 50], compiled by the Appanoose County Genealogy Society, on FHL US/CAN Film #1703962, Item #12 [Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1990].

L. Allan Shontz, 1920-2009

St. Louis Post-Dispatch [MO] - 30 January 2009

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  L. Allan Shontz died peacefully in his sleep on January 27, 2009. Allan was born on January 16, 1920, in Jerome, Iowa, to Loren and Jennie Shontz and attended a one room school house at five years of age. One year later the family relocated to the Blue Valley area of Kansas City, Missouri, and they moved several times due to flooding. Allan attended the KC public schools, graduating from Paseo High School and was an Eagle scout. He was awarded a degree in electrical engineering from KU and married his childhood sweetheart Mary Brandt in 1941.

  Allan entered the Navy as a lieutenant and trained in radar for one year at Harvard and MIT, with wartime duty in Portsmouth NH on submarine radar.  After WWII he returned to KC and worked at Vendo Co in research and development. He fathered five children, raised them in Raytown, and was actively involved in volunteer work. In addition to career and family, he built two homes with his father and completed his MBA from UMKC. 

  The second chapter of Allan's life began in 1973 with his marriage to Lillian Heine Kemper. His new blended family included three more children. Allan founded TelCon Associates of St Louis, a telecommunications consulting firm, when he was 56. He retired in 1993 and enjoyed several years of international travel. We will always remember his funny songs, his cheerful whistle, his delight in KU basketball, his love of ice cream and his signature stocking cap. 

  Services: Please join in the celebration of life at the Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2008, located at 7725 West 87th Street, Overland Park, KS. Allan is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Vivian Soraci. He is survived by his wife Lillian of the home at Lakeview Village in Lenexa, Kansas, 8 children, 17 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, a sister, nieces and nephews.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Ethical Society of St. Louis.  Arr: DW Newcomer's Sons. 913.451.1860.