Frits Lantermans
November 29, 1934 — September 20, 2018
Frits Lantermans, 83, of Marion, passed away on Thursday, September 20, 2018, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids. The family will greet friends from 4 – 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 23, 2018, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 24, 2018, at Springville Presbyterian Church, Springville, conducted by Pastor David Snyder. After services, Frits’ body will be donated to the Deeded Body Program at the University of Iowa.
Frits was born November 29, 1934, in Soekaboemi, Indonesia, the son of Pieter and Catherina (Fioole) Lantermans. Following the Japanese invasion of Indonesia during World War II, Frits moved to Holland with his family as a refugee. He later enlisted in the Royal Dutch Army and served as an Electronics Technician for 2 years. Frits was drawn to the United States knowing there were more opportunities. After seeing many American movies, he dreamed of moving to California. Through an organization, Church World Service, he was sponsored by Edith and Elmer Chester of Fairfield, Iowa, and Frits was able to realize his dream of coming to the United States in 1962. He moved to Marion, Iowa, and lived with Edith and Elmer’s daughter and son-in-law, Pete and Carol Grekoff. They hosted Frits while he was able to establish a career and work towards gaining his citizenship. Frits proudly gained his United States Citizenship later in 1976. He loved American music, automobiles and took dance lessons which led him to meeting Martha at the Armar Ballroom. On September 9, 1967, in Monticello, Iowa, Frits was united in marriage to Martha Hasler. He was employed for 35 years by Sears Roebuck and Co. as a service technician until retiring in 2000. Frits was a member of the Springville Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder, Trustee, and Deacon.
Frits loved his children and grandchildren and was very proud of them all. He enjoyed listening to music, playing piano, dancing, reading and taking care of their acreage. He took great pleasure in cooking traditional meals for his family and baking rum cakes on special occasions for their many family and friends. He was selfless in everything that he did and was a devoted husband, father and grandpa.
He is survived by his wife, Martha Lantermans of Marion; daughters, April (Natalie) Lantermans of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Michelle Fields of Paton, Iowa; sons, Sheldon (Rochelle) Lantermans of Tabernash, Colorado, Carl (Michelle) Lantermans of Marion, and Galen (Jill) Lantermans of Marion; grandchildren, Christina, Carter, Matthew, Emily, Austin, Kaitlin, Sarah, Zachary, Anna, Allison, Claire, Jakob, and Nathanael; and brother, Pieter (Ria) Lantermans of Almere Haven, Netherlands.
Frits was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Dora Stubbs; brothers, Hans Lantermans and Bob Lantermans; and son-in-law, Patrick Fields.
Frits was born November 29, 1934, in Soekaboemi, Indonesia, the son of Pieter and Catherina (Fioole) Lantermans. Following the Japanese invasion of Indonesia during World War II, Frits moved to Holland with his family as a refugee. He later enlisted in the Royal Dutch Army and served as an Electronics Technician for 2 years. Frits was drawn to the United States knowing there were more opportunities. After seeing many American movies, he dreamed of moving to California. Through an organization, Church World Service, he was sponsored by Edith and Elmer Chester of Fairfield, Iowa, and Frits was able to realize his dream of coming to the United States in 1962. He moved to Marion, Iowa, and lived with Edith and Elmer’s daughter and son-in-law, Pete and Carol Grekoff. They hosted Frits while he was able to establish a career and work towards gaining his citizenship. Frits proudly gained his United States Citizenship later in 1976. He loved American music, automobiles and took dance lessons which led him to meeting Martha at the Armar Ballroom. On September 9, 1967, in Monticello, Iowa, Frits was united in marriage to Martha Hasler. He was employed for 35 years by Sears Roebuck and Co. as a service technician until retiring in 2000. Frits was a member of the Springville Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder, Trustee, and Deacon.
Frits loved his children and grandchildren and was very proud of them all. He enjoyed listening to music, playing piano, dancing, reading and taking care of their acreage. He took great pleasure in cooking traditional meals for his family and baking rum cakes on special occasions for their many family and friends. He was selfless in everything that he did and was a devoted husband, father and grandpa.
He is survived by his wife, Martha Lantermans of Marion; daughters, April (Natalie) Lantermans of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Michelle Fields of Paton, Iowa; sons, Sheldon (Rochelle) Lantermans of Tabernash, Colorado, Carl (Michelle) Lantermans of Marion, and Galen (Jill) Lantermans of Marion; grandchildren, Christina, Carter, Matthew, Emily, Austin, Kaitlin, Sarah, Zachary, Anna, Allison, Claire, Jakob, and Nathanael; and brother, Pieter (Ria) Lantermans of Almere Haven, Netherlands.
Frits was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Dora Stubbs; brothers, Hans Lantermans and Bob Lantermans; and son-in-law, Patrick Fields.
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