Johnnie (John) Hantz

Johnnie (John) Hantz, 72, a Vietnam veteran and intrepid outdoorsman, was found deceased on Huson Peak near Libby, Montana on Dec. 14, 2023, following a two-week search. 

Born in 1951 in Spokane, Washington, John attended Lewis & Clark High School and later joined the army at age 17. After serving two tours in the Vietnam War, he and his older brother, DeWitt, went into business together constructing pole buildings. He also worked as an energy consultant for the cities of Marysville and Colfax in Washington state. 

In 2004, John moved to Libby, Montana after being taken with the natural beauty and wonder he found there. He made daily treks into the mountains to capture photos of landscapes and wildlife, excitedly sharing them with his family back in Washington. 

He became well-known around Libby for traveling everywhere with his Mastiff, Chester. The two were a constant sight in town, and although John preferred solitude, his community came to know him well. 

In his later years, John and his Can-Am would often become stuck in the snowy terrain surrounding Libby, and his neighbors helped him out every time. 

Nothing mattered more to John than family, especially his son and granddaughter, and the highlights of his days were phone calls with all of them. He had a wheezy, contagious laugh and a silly sense of humor. He loved the Trailer Park Boys and scary movies, would often joke about going "samsquanch" hunting and wasn't shy about saying how much he loved you when he hung up the phone. 

John was fiercely independent and loved to help others whenever he could. One of his proudest moments in recent years was assisting a young woman who suffered a bear attack outside of Libby (she survived). 

He led an adventurous life but endured more than his fair share of tragedy. In Libby, he found peace and a place to call home. 

John is survived by his son, Johnny Hantz, and his granddaughter, Asia Hantz, of Whidbey Island, Washington; his sister, Marilynn Brown, of Cheney, Washington; his brother, Philip Hantz, his niece, Rachel Hantz, and his nephew, Travis Hantz, of Yakima, Washington; and his faithful dog, Chester. 

He is preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Asia Lee Hantz; his parents, Susie and DeWitt Hantz, and his brother, DeWitt Hantz Jr. 

In place of a public funeral, John's ashes will be scattered in a private outing with family next spring.