Walter Lantz

Port Barre-A Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Walter Cecil Lantz will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 20, 2015, in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Port Barre, LA. Rite of Committal and interment will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery with Rev. Fr. Daniel Picard as the celebrant.
Mr. Lantz was a resident of Opelousas and passed away on Sunday, February 15, 2015, at the Opelousas General Health System in Opelousas at the age of 91.
He was born in Litchfield, Nebraska, and was raised in St. Paul, Nebraska. He fought in the U. S. Army during WWII, landing on the beaches of Normandy just days after D-Day and fought in the Battle of the Buldge, second wave. He married his sweetheart he met in Louisiana during basic training while on leave. Eventually, they moved to Louisiana where he lived for over 66 years.
He worked for over 37 years and retired with SLEMCO as a crew foreman lineman. He also worked with Fr. Eugene Seneville as a handyman for many years at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. In his prime, he was an avid fisherman, hunter, and vegetable gardener. He enjoyed mowing his lawn as well as others. He was a member of the Port Barre VFW Post 8678, Creighton, Nebraska VFW Post 1151, Port Barre American Legion Post 334, Third Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus Council 3496, and a past member of the Courtableau Wildlife Hunting Club.
Survivors include three daughters, Barbara Behringer and husband, Gary of Opelousas; Norma Susan Neeper and husband, David of Lafayette; and Betty Wheaton and husband, Michael of Port Barre; one stepdaughter, Rebecca Sarver Courville and husband, Edwin of Scott; two step-sons, Joseph Dudley Sarver, Jr. and wife, Angela of Lafayette; and John David Sarver and wife, Kim of California; son-in-law, Jimmy Barron and wife, Cindy of Leonville; one sister, Norma Joynt of Topeka, Kansas; 10 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. He also has a host of step grandchildren, step great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Mr. Lantz was preceded in death by his first wife, Anna Belle Lanclos Lantz; his second wife, Gladys Bourgeois Sarver Lantz; his daughter, Vicki Lantz Barron; his parents, John Jack Lantz, Sr. and Edith Marie Stillinger Lantz; three brothers, Jack Lantz, Jr., Fred Lantz, and Donald Lantz; and two sisters, Barbara Jean Lantz and Patricia Boyd.
Pallbearers will be Trafford Brown, Jason Barron, Paul Wheaton, Jacob Deville, Brogan Deville, Tyler Richard, and Holden Barron.
Visiting hours will be held in the Sibille Funeral Home of Port Barre on Thursday, February 19, 2015, from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. A Rosary will be recited on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. On Friday, the funeral home will reopen at 8:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Stacey Mayeaux, and to the staff of Opelousas General Health System and Senior Village Nursing Home for their wonderful medical care.
Words of Comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Port Bare.

Visitation

Sibille Funeral Home
402 Saizan Avenue
Port Barre, LA  70577
Thursday, February 19, 2015
5-9 p.m./Fri. 8-10:30 a.m.

Service

Mass of Christan Burial

Sacred Heart Catholic Church
403 Saizan Avenue
Port Barre, LA  70577
Friday, February 20, 2015
11:00 a.m.

Rosary Service

Sibille Funeral Home Chapel
402 Saizan Avenue
Port Barre, LA  70577
Thursday, February 19, 2015
6:30 p.m.

Cemetery

Sacred Heart Catholic Church Cemetery
403 Saizon St.
Port Barre, LA  70577