Carl Xavior 'Pinky' Jantzer Obituary (1956

Carl Xavior "Pinky" Jantzer passed away on Thursday, October 21, 2021, at his home in Thorp, WA at the age of 65. Carl was the oldest of five children, born to Vernon and Carlene Jantzer on January 27, 1956, in Roseburg, Oregon. Carl was raised in a military family, so they lived in many locations. He would light up when he spoke of their time living in Hawaii and had a great love of the water. He was raised in his High School years by his grandparents, Carl & Beverly Ward. During this time, he spent a lot of time hunting with his cousin Pete. He played water polo and won the state championship title in swimming for the butterfly stroke. He was well known for his chess skills and was a member of the Poway High School Chess Club. He shared a love of cars and learned the mechanical trade from his dad. He also won the Plymouth Trouble-Shooting Award in HS. He met his life-long best friend, Tom Nash in 1974 and graduated from Cottage Grove High School in 1975. In the fall of 1976, he was working as a mechanic for the Husky Truck Stop. There he met a waitress, Nancy Knight. They were married in May 1978. Together they enjoyed camping, fishing, playing card games. They also shared a love of spending as much time as they could in Nancys familys homestead in Taneum. He especially enjoyed the annual Fields Family Reunions there (where he was known for causing trouble). They lived for their entire marriage in Thorp, WA where they raised all six of their children. Carl had an incredible natural ability with mechanics and worked as a mechanic at auto-body shops as well as a few heavy machinery enterprises. He owned a salvage yard and towing service with his father for a number of years. He was extremely inventive and spent his time collecting and tumbling rocks, panning for gold, collecting coins and antiques, making jewelry, and hunting for mushrooms. He loved music and had great memories of concerts he was able to attend. He loved watching Nascar Racing and was extremely fond of old westerns. He became passionate about wood working after spending time with Nancys dad George and left Nancy and the kids with many treasured hand-made gifts. His most beloved and notable trait was his ability to tell the very best stories (albeit a few embellishments may have been created from time to time). He and Nancy spent Carls later years enjoying time with their many children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Carl treasured the grandchildren sleepovers and so much laughter in playing timber. They very often able to come together for family gatherings, enjoying many games including contact croquet, bocce ball, horseshoes, cribbage, chess and many a rowdy game of poker. He was preceded in death by his loving grandparents Carl and Beverly, his parents Vernon and Carlene, his mother and father-in-law George and Betty Robinson and his cousin Pete. He is survived by his wife Nancy, six children Autumn (Paul), Kyle (Ashley), Beverly, Zebulon, John (Rebecca), and Courtney "Mean Jean" (Cole), six grand-children Micaela (David), MacKenzie (Tyler), Mason (Madi), Xavior, Elijah and Taneum, two great grandchildren Tessa and Liam as well as his brothers Tony (Donna) and James, and sisters Rose and Cheryl. A celebration of Carls life will be planned for Spring 2022 at the Taneum property. Those wishing to honor his love of family and the Taneum homestead will have the opportunity to bring plants as donation to be planted during the celebration. For those who are unable to attend or wish alternatively, may donate money in his name to the American Cancer Society.