Obituary for Barbara Frantz
Barbara Lee Frantz, beloved wife of the late Vernon Frantz, passed away Sunday, February 20, 2022 while visiting with family. She enjoyed a beautiful marriage of 54 years prior to Vernon’s death in 2019. Together they built an amazing family that includes three children, 21 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. However, Barbara’s greatest adventure was her walk with Jesus, from the age of 11. The walk became a race, and often a crawl, and she finished it well.
Barbara was born October 20, 1945 to Stuart and LuElla Bonesteel of Hillsboro, Kansas where Grandpa Bonesteel owned a car-lot. She started kindergarten in Hillsboro, but moved to Salina, Kansas when Grandpa owned a new business. Barbara was baptized at the Hillsboro Evangelical United Brethren Church on April 7, 1957. Her biggest move was to Colorado where she attended Palmer High School in Colorado Springs, graduating in 1963. She and her siblings, Brenda Bonesteel Frantz and Brad Bonesteel, enjoyed the Colorado mountains, their parents motel, the Slumber Lodge, and the swimming pool. Barbara loved to swim.
After graduating from High School, Barbara intended to stay in Colorado Springs and attend Beauty School. However, by wisdom and providence, her parents sent her back to Hillsboro to attend Tabor College. It was there at Tabor she noticed a handsome basketball player and she became Mrs. Vernon Frantz on October 3, 1964 at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro.
Then the real adventure began as they settled in with work and children: Darin Frantz in 1966, Tami Frantz May in 1968 and Kristi Frantz Cillo in 1971. Vernon felt called to ministry and they moved to Carls Junction, Missouri to attend Ozark Bible College, where Vernon graduated in 1975. Ministry led them to Springfield, Illinois and back to Kansas, specifically Wichita, Leon, Andover and then finally at Rose Hill Christian Church where Vernon retired. Barbara was very active in their ministry as she was his right-hand and greatest advocate. Barb & Vern also enjoyed singing in a gospel quartet for many years with Brenda & Lauren Frantz. The music ministry continued as Barbara stepped back and Kristi Frantz Cillo stepped in. However, Barbara was still their biggest cheerleader, helping with the sound-board and hooping and hollering her “hallelujahs”. Barbara loved her family and church-family very much as evidenced by her great hospitality during holidays, small groups, warm sunny days or family get-togethers. Many sweet memories were forged around the swimming pool, in the Church fellowship hall or gathered around the ice cream churn or stack of pancakes. Food was always plentiful, games & laughter rang out and the door was always open. Barb and Vern moved to Oklahoma for a period of time then relocated to Derby, Kansas before Vernon’s death. Three years ago when Vernon passed away, part of Barbara also started leaving us. Vern was her hands, her feet and her hearing. He was her best friend. He truly was her everything. It is so comforting to know that their eternity is forged together. Because of that, we all have “one more reason to go, one more reason to not give up, one more reason my heart is longing for a place I’ve never known.”. Jesus alone is enough, but running our race strong to the end will have a great reward when we see Barb & Vern.
In the last few years, Barbara was very passionate about Acts 2:38-39 “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all who the Lord our God will call.” Every time she heard it preached or quoted it stirred her heart with determination and purpose. When she had anxiety, we would read the Bible to her, especially Psalm 46 “God is our refuge and strength”. She found such peace with the reading of the Bible She longed for Heaven. She knew her physical heart was failing, her hands & feet were trembling and her mind was wandering but her spiritual heart wanted to go Home. Our studies on the End Times at Church gave her great comfort. 2 Peter 3:11-13 was important: “…what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and Godly lives, as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”
Welcome Home Sister….welcome Home Mom…welcome Home Grandma.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Stuart and LuElla Bonesteel of Wichita; her father and mother-in-law Abe and Ida Frantz of Hillsboro; and her brother-in-law Gary Frantz of Hillsboro.
She is survived by her children: Darin Frantz (Kristina) of Cape Fair, Missouri; Tami Frantz May (Mark) of Rose Hill Kansas; and Kristi Frantz Cillo (Vince) of Lakewood, Ohio and all the grandchildren in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Ohio. Also she is survived by her siblings Brenda Bonesteel Frantz (Lauren) of Derby, Kansas and Brad Bonesteel (Faith) of Park City, Kansas and Vern’s siblings Sally Frantz of Hillsboro and Michael Frantz (Marge) of Derby, and many, many nieces and nephews.
Barbara was born October 20, 1945 to Stuart and LuElla Bonesteel of Hillsboro, Kansas where Grandpa Bonesteel owned a car-lot. She started kindergarten in Hillsboro, but moved to Salina, Kansas when Grandpa owned a new business. Barbara was baptized at the Hillsboro Evangelical United Brethren Church on April 7, 1957. Her biggest move was to Colorado where she attended Palmer High School in Colorado Springs, graduating in 1963. She and her siblings, Brenda Bonesteel Frantz and Brad Bonesteel, enjoyed the Colorado mountains, their parents motel, the Slumber Lodge, and the swimming pool. Barbara loved to swim.
After graduating from High School, Barbara intended to stay in Colorado Springs and attend Beauty School. However, by wisdom and providence, her parents sent her back to Hillsboro to attend Tabor College. It was there at Tabor she noticed a handsome basketball player and she became Mrs. Vernon Frantz on October 3, 1964 at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro.
Then the real adventure began as they settled in with work and children: Darin Frantz in 1966, Tami Frantz May in 1968 and Kristi Frantz Cillo in 1971. Vernon felt called to ministry and they moved to Carls Junction, Missouri to attend Ozark Bible College, where Vernon graduated in 1975. Ministry led them to Springfield, Illinois and back to Kansas, specifically Wichita, Leon, Andover and then finally at Rose Hill Christian Church where Vernon retired. Barbara was very active in their ministry as she was his right-hand and greatest advocate. Barb & Vern also enjoyed singing in a gospel quartet for many years with Brenda & Lauren Frantz. The music ministry continued as Barbara stepped back and Kristi Frantz Cillo stepped in. However, Barbara was still their biggest cheerleader, helping with the sound-board and hooping and hollering her “hallelujahs”. Barbara loved her family and church-family very much as evidenced by her great hospitality during holidays, small groups, warm sunny days or family get-togethers. Many sweet memories were forged around the swimming pool, in the Church fellowship hall or gathered around the ice cream churn or stack of pancakes. Food was always plentiful, games & laughter rang out and the door was always open. Barb and Vern moved to Oklahoma for a period of time then relocated to Derby, Kansas before Vernon’s death. Three years ago when Vernon passed away, part of Barbara also started leaving us. Vern was her hands, her feet and her hearing. He was her best friend. He truly was her everything. It is so comforting to know that their eternity is forged together. Because of that, we all have “one more reason to go, one more reason to not give up, one more reason my heart is longing for a place I’ve never known.”. Jesus alone is enough, but running our race strong to the end will have a great reward when we see Barb & Vern.
In the last few years, Barbara was very passionate about Acts 2:38-39 “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all who the Lord our God will call.” Every time she heard it preached or quoted it stirred her heart with determination and purpose. When she had anxiety, we would read the Bible to her, especially Psalm 46 “God is our refuge and strength”. She found such peace with the reading of the Bible She longed for Heaven. She knew her physical heart was failing, her hands & feet were trembling and her mind was wandering but her spiritual heart wanted to go Home. Our studies on the End Times at Church gave her great comfort. 2 Peter 3:11-13 was important: “…what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and Godly lives, as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”
Welcome Home Sister….welcome Home Mom…welcome Home Grandma.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Stuart and LuElla Bonesteel of Wichita; her father and mother-in-law Abe and Ida Frantz of Hillsboro; and her brother-in-law Gary Frantz of Hillsboro.
She is survived by her children: Darin Frantz (Kristina) of Cape Fair, Missouri; Tami Frantz May (Mark) of Rose Hill Kansas; and Kristi Frantz Cillo (Vince) of Lakewood, Ohio and all the grandchildren in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Ohio. Also she is survived by her siblings Brenda Bonesteel Frantz (Lauren) of Derby, Kansas and Brad Bonesteel (Faith) of Park City, Kansas and Vern’s siblings Sally Frantz of Hillsboro and Michael Frantz (Marge) of Derby, and many, many nieces and nephews.