Linda Lou Jantz

Linda Lou Jantz, 78, of Wellington, Kansas, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2026, surrounded by the love of a family whose lives she touched in countless ways.

Linda was born on March 1, 1948, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Harvey Karch and Betty Kraft. She was the oldest of ten siblings, and throughout her life, family remained an important part of who she was. In 1985, Linda moved to Kansas, where she built a life full of love, family, hard work, adventure, and more animals than most people could imagine.

Linda was united in marriage to Orice Peter Jantz on June 10, 1988. Together, they shared many years of love, laughter, adventure, and life on the open road. Linda started learning to drive truck when she was 15 and eventually earned her CDL at age 20. She took great pride in her ability to drive a semi truck. She especially loved team driving with Orice, making memories and sharing countless miles together.

To know Linda was to know her love for animals. Her heart was never too small for another dog, cat, goose, chicken, turkey, bull, miniature donkey, horse, rabbit, bird, pig—or just about any other animal that needed a home or a little extra love. She cared for them with a fierce and tender heart, and her love for animals was one of the many things that made her truly unforgettable.

Almost as much as she loved her animals, Linda loved spending time with her grandchildren and family. She created a lifetime of memories through the simple moments: visiting, laughing, spending time together, and always being Grams. She also enjoyed collecting mice and angels, crafting, crocheting, and searching for a good bargain. Linda could spot a garage sale sign from a mile away and was always ready to see what treasures might be waiting around the next corner.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Betty Kraft and Harvey Karch; her siblings, Barbra Thornton, Peggy Wessels, Ronnie Karch, Rod Berria, and Michael Karch; her daughter, Michealine Jantz; her grandson, Jordan Lien; and her great-grandson, Lucca Lien.

Left to cherish Linda’s memory are her beloved husband, Orice Peter Jantz; her siblings, Warren Karch (Liz), Martin Kraft, Susie Donahue (Dan), Bobbi Wagner (Paul), and Harvey Karch Jr.; her children, Kimberly Gifford (Jerry), Delvin Dawdy, Charles Jantz, Lisa Litwiller (Josh), Viola Wooldridge (Dennis), Fred Jantz (Tiara), and Jeremy Jantz (Chelsey); her grandchildren, Christopher Dawdy (Laura), Michael Dawdy (Kristen), James Bell, Aaron Whitman (Jesseka), Krystal Garrett (Xavier), Tiffany Helm (Evan), Steffany Pracht (Matt), Devin Dawdy, Allee Dawdy, Ivy Litwiller, Elijah Wooldridge, Lucas Wooldridge, Izzy Weber, Braden Blevins, Braelynn Jantz, and Kade Jantz; and 30 great-grandchildren, along with many extended family members and friends who were blessed to know and love her.

Linda will be deeply missed, but never forgotten. Though her family’s hearts are broken by her passing, her love and the lessons she left behind will continue to live on in each of them. Her legacy lives on in the many lives she touched, the family she loved so deeply, and in the countless stories and memories that will continue to bring smiles, laughter, and tears.