SGM JOHN W LANTING To TAPS

John W. Lanting or “Vanni” as his wife affectionately called him was born 17 March 1927 in Ontario, CA, the son of William and Catherine (Meyer) Lanting, both immigrants from Holland.

John joined the Army in 1945, at the young age of 18.  He retired as a Finance SGM in February 1976 after a 30 year military career.

On his second tour of duty in Austria, John was introduced to Feodora (Fae) Ovcinnikov on a blind date on 7 December 1954.  After a short courtship they were married at the Stiftskaserne in Vienna on 16 July 1955.  When the Austrian Peace Treaty was signed in September 1955 they left with the last convoy leaving Austria for Germany.

Most of John’s military service was spent overseas with duty stations in Italy, Iran, Japan and Germany as well as two tours of duty in Vietnam which included delivering paychecks via helicopter to soldiers in the battlefield.  His many TDY trips took him to Okinawa, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Lebanon and many other places.  John was awarded numerous medals, and was made an Honorary Member of 3/506th CURRAHEE 101st ABN.

Two of their daughters, Patricia and Michelle, were born in Teheran, Iran, with Audrey joining the family at the Presidio of San Francisco.  His next assignments took the family to Japan for 5 years followed by 13 years in Germany.

John was too young to stay retired after leaving the military, so he completed his BS (double major in Accounting) and accepted a position for the next 13 years as Chief Accountant with Non-Appropriated Funds.  After his second retirement, John initiated a Liaison Office for AUSA Chapters and was involved with facilitating international conventions that were held in Washington, DC over the next 5 years.

While on leave from New Jersey in 1952, John took a cross country trek back to California via Route 66.  Driving through Arizona, he stopped off at the quaint little town of Prescott and mused to himself, “this is the place I would someday like to hang my hat”.  He made that dream come true, and designed a lovely house for his family in Yavapai Hills, relocating from Germany to their “forever” home in Prescott on Father’s Day 1995.  

John kept active physically and mentally by landscaping their yard, playing bridge with his buddies at the clubhouse, excelling at Sudoku, avidly watching sports and scores, and serving on the HOMCO Finance Committee for over 10 years.  His enjoyments included classical music, the Opera and travels which took him to every continent.  He loved to read books and he googled every topic under the sun – always curious, his mind never stood still. 

Sadly John became legally blind, practically deaf, and progressively chair ridden toward the last several months of his life due a debilitating spinal cord tumor.  But he pressed on.  The cats were constant and faithful companions to their gentle master.  John passed away on 6 July 2023, within five days of being admitted to the Prescott VA Hospice Heroes Way, and just 10 days short of celebrating his and Fae’s 68th wedding anniversary. 

He is survived by his wife Fae of Prescott, his daughters Michelle (Brian), Audrey (Kurt), grandsons Sage, Caleb and Ezra from California, and other Lanting/Meyer relatives Jim Voss (Nancy and their children Rob, Melody, Tim), Catherine Vanatar, Shirley Pierce, Nancy (& Osha) Mendonca, Frank Mendonca, Sharon Roque, Cathy Kazabee, Marie Stiles and Ruth Henderson.

A heartbreak was when his first-born daughter Patricia succumbed to juvenile diabetes in 1987 at the age of 30. 

John’s final resting place will be at Arlington National Cemetery.  As much as he loved Prescott, he was a very proud soldier and wanted to be laid to rest among his peers. His last request was that his mother’s bible (which she gave to him in 1940 on his 13th birthday) be placed alongside him.  

A celebration of life will be held on 13 September 2023 at 11am at Prescott’s Sacred Heart Church.

The family suggests memorials in John’s name to Miss Kitty’s House or the Yavapai Humane Society.