Jontz, Edwin 1918-2004

JONTZ, JOHNSTON, FITZ

Posted By: Barbara Hug
Date: 3/18/2005 at 13:45:17

Newton Daily News, Tuesday, September 21, 2004

MARSHALLTOWN -- Edwin "Pope" Jontz, 86, of Marshalltown died Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004, at his home.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Laurel United Methodist Church. Burial will follow services at Riverside Cemetery with military rites.

A visitation will be held Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Pursel-Davis Funeral Home & Crematory in Marshalltown, where the family will be present from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the family.

The son of Elmer and Mary (Johnston) Jontz, he was born June 17, 1918, in Lorimer. He received his early education in Rhodes, Collins and Mason City. He graduated from Van Cleve in 1938 and attended Chillicothe Business College and Iowa State. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in August of 1941. He graduated from armament school at Lowry Field in Denver, Colo., and then from gunnery school in Las Vegas. He received his pilot's wings in July, 1943. He was a flight instructor for B-25s for two years. After the war, he operated a G.J. Flight Instructor school for two years in Elkader.

On March 7, 1943, he married Carol Fitz in Laurel. From 1949 to 1993, they farmed south of Van Cleve. From 1968 to 1984, they operated the E Bar J Farm Supply in Baxter. He was a member of the Laurel Methodist Church and Laurel American Legion Harold Mc Broom Post No. 638. He enjoyed fishing in Canada with his friends and family.

Survivors include his wife; three daughters and sons-in-law, Barb and Jerry Gazaway and Julie and Steve Lang, all of Marshalltown, Janie and Rick Sherman of Deming, N.M.; eight grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; two sisters, Doris Knoll of Marshalltown and Bonnie Trowbridge of Rhodes; and a sister-in-law, Edna Fitz of Marshalltown.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Maxine Davidson.