Obituary of John Frank Pentz

JOHN FRANK PENTZ APRIL 12, 1932 – MARCH 8, 2014 John passed away on Saturday, March 8, 2014 with his family by his side. He was predeceased by his father, John Pentz; mother Elizabeth Gerigk (Pentz); step-father Paul Gerigk, sisters, Anne Nerenberg and Irene Herbert; and grandson Matthew Pentz. John is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Dolores (nee Seitz); sons, Brad (Laura) and Jeff (Darlene); grandchildren, Emily (Ryan) Nicholson, Jesse Pentz and Brandon Pentz; great-grandaughter Stella Nicholson; sister Barb Beitel; brother-in-law Morley (Betty) Seitz; and numerous nieces and nephews. Due to his own father passing at a young age, John learned early on how to care for his family and others, and developed a work ethic and leadership skills that he carried for the rest of his life. John was educated in Regina and in his youth sports were a major part of his life. He played football and hockey in Regina, Notre Dame and Humboldt, and was a member of the Regina Juvenile Pats Hockey Club, Regina Dales Junior Football Club and the Rogers Lumberjacks Senior Hockey team. John was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to so many in his community. He was a fixture at all of his son’s and grandson’s sporting events, and was like a dad to many of his son’s friends and a grandpa to his grandchildren’s friends. John began his career with Regina Fire Department in 1952. He was very proud of the work he and others accomplished for the benefit of members of the IAFF local 181 in his position of Secretary for many years. John rose through the ranks to become Deputy Fire Chief in 1985 and Chief of Suppression Rescue in 1989. He served the RFD and the citizens of Regina with honesty, humility and integrity. As chief of RFD, John was proud to be known as ‘one of the boys’. In his retirement years John was actively involved in Holy Cross Parish. He enjoyed family gatherings, annual northern fishing trips with his firefighter buddies, golfing and curling. As the family has been repeatedly told throughout his career and retirement “if anything has to be done, ask John.” The family would like to thank Doctors Whittick and Lavoie; the Schuster family for their friendship; and a heartfelt thank-you to Doctor Datta and family friend Dale Orban, for their kindness, compassion and support during John’s final days. A Celebration of John’s life will be held at Holy Cross R.C. Church, 315 Douglas Avenue East, Regina, SK on Thursday, March 13, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. Interment in Riverside Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s memory, may be made to the Regina General Hospital, Unit 6A – Burn Unit, 1400 – 14th Avenue, Regina, SK, S4P 0W5 or the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan, 279 – 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 2H8. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com