Gene Rantz

Rantz, Gene 6/17/1932 - 8/14/2021 Northport Gene Lewis Rantz, 89, of Northport, died peacefully with family by his side on August 14, 2021. Gene was born to Gerald A. Rantz and Adelaide L. Rantz (Janke) on June 17, 1932, in Martin Township and grew up in Plainwell, MI. He was a 1950 graduate of Plainwell High School and a 1954 graduate of Western Michigan University. After serving as a commissioned officer in the US Army in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, Gene became a commercial artist in Kalamazoo, MI. In 1961 Gene, along with his father and two brothers, became founders of the family business Timber Ridge Ski Area. In 1985 being unfulfilled with commercial art and the ski business, Gene began a life-long journey to pursue his ultimate passion of becoming a fine art landscape painter. He famously loaded his beloved sailboat with art supplies and departed South Haven for Northern Michigan. That is when he discovered Northport and the love of his life, Judy Mastick. Gene and Judy adored each other. During the cold Northport winters Gene maintained a residence in Suwannee, FL, where he explored and painted the limitless gulf wilderness of sawgrass, wildlife and tributaries. Both Gene and Judy lived for the arts. During their 37 years together, they were renowned in the Northern Michigan art community for Judy's fabric art, wonderful jewelry and Gene's beautiful landscape paintings. Gene was a kind and gentle man. He loved children and little dogs. He was a superb storyteller and always seemed to have the right story to fit the moment. Gene delighted in teaching the techniques of painting, fly fishing, playing catch, camping, sailing and especially how to quite the mind and be inspired by the beauty of nature and life that surrounds us. His wisdom impacted many who met him. Gene loved roaming the Northern Michigan and Florida country sides observing the changing seasons in search of bluegills, alligators, songbirds, wild asparagus, berries and morel mushrooms. He had a deep love for the natural world and could see so many inspirational subjects in nature that many of us overlook. His artistic eye gave him a unique vision to see balanced compositions, dramatic cloud shapes, furtive ripples, shadows and light; all for him to capture on canvas and to share with us. His legacy and gift to us all was to wander the world, to see nature's beauty and secrets and then with the stroke of a brush, to hold them tight in the paint for untold generations to enjoy. Gene fulfilled his ultimate passion and lived life the way he dreamed. We are all so grateful he did. "The human need to relate with the natural world finds many outlets. For painters, the urge to capture nature's intrigue is most compelling. With paint and canvas, confined to two dimensions, we set forth to capture that elusive beauty lavished upon us by nature. In Leelanau, I find a dazzling abundance of compositions from which to draw painting inspiration and a public of art conscious people drawn here by a mutual appreciation of the beauty of this land." ~ Gene Rantz, 2005 Gene is lovingly remembered by his children, William G. Rantz (Colleen Prichard), Cheryl A. Meech (Michael Smith), and Marjorie R. Endres (Robert). Gene was a proud grandfather of seven grandchildren, Garrett and Gavin Rantz; Jason and Josh Meech; Michael, Kristen, and Ashley Endres; and three great-grandchildren, Derek, Owen, and Joey Meech. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sally A. Crosse (Newman) of Plainwell, MI and his second wife, Judith M. Rantz (Veresh) of Northport, MI, and a sister, Charlotte Cowels. Gene is survived by his older sister, Estelle Elder, and two brothers, Gordon A. Rantz (Mary Jane) and Roger L. Rantz (Joanne). Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Gene' life will be held between 5pm and 8pm on September 10, 2021, at The Park Club, 219 W. South Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. www.martinson.info