Thelma Oenita "Jan" Cooper Gantz, age 92, passed away Sunday, September 27, 2015, at Cedar Village, Ness City, Kansas.

Jan was born on May 6, 1923, in New Nata, Arkansas the daughter of W.W. and Leona (Avey) Cooper. In 1950 she moved to Ness City where she met Robert Gantz. They were married on April 9, 1952 in Ness City.

She was a high school English teacher and drama coach, an author, and a homemaker. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Ness County Bank Building Foundation, both of Ness City.

She is survived by her husband; son, Gary Gantz and his wife Jodi of Ness City; and two daughters, Paula Ripple and her husband, Dr. David, of Dodge City and Ann Matz and her husband, Kurt, of Phoenix, Arizona; seven grandchildren, Zachary and Cody Matz, Wade, Colby, and Dalton Gantz, Jacob Ripple, and Shelley Rodriguez and a great granddaughter, Adi.

She was preceded in death by her two brothers, Thurman Cooper and Grady Cooper and her three sisters, Loys Ballard, Genevra Burke, and Malva Sively.

Funeral services will be on Friday, October 2, 2015, 10:00 A.M. at the First Baptist Church, Ness City. Burial in the Ness City Cemetery.

Friends may call at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Wednesday from 2:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. and on Thursday from 9:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M. with the family present from 6-8 P.M.
Memorial contributions may be given to the First Baptist Church or the Ness County Bank Building Foundation.

Words of sympathy and support may be left for the family by signing the guest book below.