Doris Pantier, 97, Perry, Iowa
Doris Virginia Johns was born on Sept. 16, 1922, on her grandparent’s farm five miles south of Perry, Iowa. She was the first of nine children born to Albert William Johns and Grace Pauline Wilcox Johns.
Growing up in the adversity of the depression years of the 1930s helped shape the resilient character that would serve Doris well for the rest of her life.
Following her graduation from Perry High School in the spring of 1940, Doris went to Washington D.C. to live and ultimately to work for the war effort.
On Oct. 25, 1942, Doris married her high school sweetheart, Jack Lientz, in Bethany, Missouri, while Jack was home on a short leave from the U.S. Navy. After the war, Doris and Jack came back to Perry to work for her father’s hatchery business. A few years later, they had two sons, Jeff and Mike, and lived happily until Jack’s untimely death on Dec. 3, 1954, at the age of 32.
Doris found love again and was united in marriage with Virgil Pantier on May 1, 1960, at the First Christian Church in Perry. With the addition of Virgil’s son and daughter, Bill and Mary Ann, they became a family of six.
Doris and Virgil had 48 great years together until Virgil’s death on March 9, 2008.
Doris lived at her home, which she dearly loved, until the age of 94, at which time she moved to the Rowley Memorial Masonic Home in Perry, where she ruled with grace and charm until God called her home on Sept. 13, 2020.
Doris had many things in her life that she enjoyed and loved, but the greatest love was for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Words fall short to describe the loss that her family feels. She was such a beautiful soul, touched so many lives and will be dearly missed.
Left to cherish Doris’s memory are her sons, Jeff (Claudia) Lientz , Mike (Kathy) Lientz, Bill (Dianne) Pantier; and her daughter, Mary Ann Pantier; grandchildren and their families, Grant (Stephanie) Lientz , Eleanor and Ian, Doug (Yolanda) Lake, Eviana, Sofia, Arath and Camila, Michelle (Doug) Stengal, Billy Pantier, Jeff Wernli and Harper, Stacy (Eric) Feenstra, Kenley, Scarlett, Logan, Rylinne and Brianna and Michael Wernli and Carter, Paisley, Carson and Owen; sisters, Pat Meier, Sandy (Larry) Botts and Linda (Bob) Olson; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding Doris in death are her parents, Albert and Grace Johns; husbands, Jack Lientz and Virgil Pantier; brothers, George and Donald Johns; sisters, Vernas Shipley, Norma Herridge and Verna Martin; brothers-in-law, Bill Martin, Jack Meier, Dale Shipley and Richard Herridge; sister-in-law, Joanne Johns; nephews, Kevin and Kelley Herridge; and niece, Debbie Gelbowitz.
A Celebration of Life funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at the First Christian Church in Perry. Burial will follow the service at the Violet Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the service starting at 10 a.m. It is preferred that masks be worn and social distancing be observed.
Memorials may be given in Doris’ memory to the First Christian Church. Online condolences may be left at murdockfuneralhome.net
