Francine Ruth Lantz

The Reverend Francine Ruth (Biondo) Lantz age 78 years 7 months 29 days, passed from this life to Life Eternal on December 11, 2024. Fran was born to Vincent Joseph Biondo and Ruth Marie (Trommer) Biondo on April 12, 1946, in Akron, Ohio. She died at St. Luke North Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri surrounded by her loving family.

She was a 1964 graduate of Buchtel High School in Akron. In High School Fran was a competitive swimmer. She won many awards swimming the backstroke. One of her favorite memories was the match she had to swim with boys. This was because there were no other girls to swim against. She beat two of the seven boys in that meet!

She received her BA in Education from the University of Akron in 1969. She taught in the Akron public schools where she also served as a guidance counselor. As a result of a vision, she left teaching and went to the Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg, PA.

While at Seminary, Fran met Craig Ashton Lantz. She could not stand him at first, but he wore her down and they were happily married in August of 1975. In addition to the regular theological training Fran and Craig were trained in marriage and family counseling. Fran graduated with her Master of Divinity in 1977. She was ordained in 1978. Fran was the beloved wife of Craig for over 49 years.

Fran and Craig's first parish was the Spring Mills Lutheran Parish in Spring Mills, PA. They shared one salary, but their contract also said that they would be given all the sweet corn they wanted from the farmers of the parish. While they were in Spring Mills, they adopted their son, Philip.

Fran followed Craig to Fort Leonard Wood, MO after he joined the Army. There she served as a supply pastor to some local congregations and continued her education as a counselor. From Missouri they headed to Münster, Germany then Karlsruhe, Germany. There she served as a drug and alcohol counselor. They lived in Germany for five years.

When she and Craig returned to the states, Fran served as pastor to St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Albrightsville, PA. Next she and Craig served as co-pastors to the Mountain Grove Lutheran parish, in Mountain Grove PA. After that, they moved to Glen Rock, PA. There, Fran served as pastor to the Lazarus Lutheran Church in State Line, PA. She also conducted services and preached at many Lutheran churches in South Central Pennsylvania for vacationing pastors.

After retirement, Fran and Craig moved to Gladstone, Missouri to be near their son Philip and his family. Though retired, Fran didn't quit working. She spent her last seven years serving as the beloved pastor of Upper Wolf Lutheran Church in Robinson, KS.

Fran was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Craig, their son, Philip and his wife Sarah Lantz and grandsons Caleb and Joshua Lantz. She is also survived by her brother, Frank Biondo of Oregon and cousins, Stephanie Jones and Sally Layman of Ohio.

Funeral services will be scheduled later. Interment will be in the Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS.

Memorial contributions may be made to Upper Wolf Lutheran Church, 1803 Sumac Rd, Robinson, KS 66532 or Tunnel to Towers Foundation.