Longtime Ohio tire dealer Kantz dies at 82

March 17, 2015

John "Dan" Kantz, a tire industry veteran and longtime Willowick, Ohio, resident, died on March 13, 2015. He was 82.

Kantz was born August 17, 1932, in Pennsylvania. He worked in his father's tire retreading business before moving to the Cleveland, Ohio, area. He co-founded Consumer Tire Inc. in Mentor, Ohio, near Cleveland in 1962. He retired in 1985 and sold the business to his children.

According to his obituary, he "loved the sunshine and enjoyed the beach. He loved putting puzzles together, making latch hook rugs, raising tomatoes and drinking milkshakes. John will always be remembered for his incredible bear hugs and bone crushing handshakes by all who knew him."

He was very involved with his church and supported Boys Brigade, which was the Christian version of the Boy Scouts. He would support missionaries when they came to town by repairing their cars and installing tires gratis.

Kantz is survived by his wife, Dorothy Kantz; children, Al (Debbie) Almasi, Bruce (Charlotte) Kantz, David (Sherry) Kantz, DD (Mark) Coley and Dale (Margaret) Kantz. He is also survived by 10 loving grandchildren and nine loving great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, John W. and Elda Kantz.

The memorial service will be held March 20 at 5 p.m. at Maplegrove Alliance Church, 36400 Maplegrove Rd., Willoughby, OH 44094. Private family inturnment will be held at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Hospice of the Western Reserve (visit www.hospicewr.org to donate online) or the Maplegrove Alliance Church. Arrangements are entrusted to the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060. To offer condolences, visit www.brunners.com.