Carl R. Jantzen

Carl Raymond Jantzen, beloved husband, father, grandfather, educator and friend died in his sleep at Woodland Country Manor in Oxford, Ohio on August 29, 2020 during the time of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Carl will be remembered as a gentle heart who cherished his family, his friends, classical music, and all of nature. He was an avid birder. Carl loved to sing and his voice was deep and strong, his hands were generous.

He leaves behind his loving wife Anne (Koch) of 36 years, his son Franz and wife Jean Badalamenti, his grandchildren Isaac and Sicilia, his sister Helen Ruth Unruh and the very large extended families of Jantzens, Kochs and Badalamentis. He was proceeded in death by his brothers and their spouses:  Ted and Maureen, Richard and Hilda, Paul and Elaine, and his brother-in-law Robert Unruh.  He was also proceeded in death by his first wife and Franz’s mother, Naomi (Shellenberg) Jantzen of Cincinnati.

Carl was born April 2, 1931, in Beatrice, Nebraska, the youngest child of Jacob Jantzen and Helen (Jantzen) Jantzen. He attended the Mennonite Bethel College, in North Newton, Kansas and served as a conscientious objector when he was drafted during the Korean war.  He joined International Voluntary Service instead and served in Wedel, Germany and among the Kurds in Shaqlawa, Iraq.  His world view was dramatically changed by this experience and he later attended Michigan State University to pursue his advanced degree in Sociology and Anthropology.  Carl’s first teaching position was at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where he surprised himself by staying the rest of his career. Carl always enjoying teaching and working with his students more than the administrative duties of chair of the department from 1969 to 1984.  Carl traveled extensively with a research focus in Belize.  He encouraged his young relatives and students to travel and to learn foreign languages in order to expand their world view.

Carl was a founder of the Friends of Chrisholm Historic Farmstead, MetroParks of Butler County. Donations in his memory can be made to them at PO 234, Trenton, OH 45067 or Mennonite Central Committee, 121 E 30th Street, North Newton, KS 67117.

The service for Carl will be private. The family plans to host a post-virus concert at some future date.

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