GANTZ, John Keith 1928 - 1945

GANTZ

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/21/2022 at 20:35:50

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Monday, October 1, 1945
Front Page, Column 3

YOUTH FOUND DEAD RESULT OF GUN WOUND

John GANTZ, 16 year old son of Mrs. Orville GANTZ, died early Sunday morning at the family home eight miles north of Fairfield from a gunshot wound in the head. First reports were that his death was suicidal but it is possible that it was the result of the accidental discharge of a 22 calibre rifle.

The youth had been in Fairfield during the preceeding evening and returned to his home at 1:30 a.m. His mother heard him enter the house but did not get up. Soon after he entered the house she heard the discharge of a rifle and went to the kitchen vestibule where she found him lying on the floor.

A doctor who was called reached his side before death occurred but he was unconscious from the time the gun discharged and was unable to shed any light on what had happened. He had been hunting with several boys in the afternoon and had left the rifle on the porch. Whether he took the rifle to put it away and it was discharged accidentally will never be known. The bullet entered his head between the eyes.

The youth who was the only son of Mr. Orville GANTZ was a senior in Fairfield high school. His father died six years ago and he and his mother had carried on the operation of the farm on which they lived. He would have reached his 17th birthday October 30th.

Sheriff Thomas Howell said that an inquest would not be held since the youth was alive when the doctor arrived on the scene and it is customary to hold inquests when cause of death is unknown only when the body is discovered after death occurs.

Funeral services will be held at the Fairfield Lutheran church Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 in charge of the Rev. Edward A. Piper and burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. The body will lie in state from 1:30 to 2:30.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Saturday, October 6, 1945
Page SIX, Column 7

PACKWOOD
By Mrs. J. W. Cowguill

... Many Packwood people attended funeral services held Tuesday afternoon in the Lutheran church in Fairfield for John GANTZ. ...

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Friday, November 2, 1945
Page SEVEN, Column 8

ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE

Public Notice Is Hereby Given:

That the undersigned has this day been appointed and commissioned by the District Court of Jefferson County, in the State of Iowa, administrator of the estate of John Keith GANTZ, Deceased.

All persons having claims against said estate are hereby notified to file them with the Clerk of said court, clearly stated and duly sworn to, and within legal time, preparatory to their being allowed or proved, and persons owing said estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned and avoid costs.

Dated at Fairfield, Iowa, this 1st day of November, A. D. 1945.

GLENN GANTZ,
Administrator.

SIMMONS & SIMMONS,
Attorneys.
Nov. 2, Nov. 9.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Lot 2nd.122.