James Henry Frantz
T/5 in Signal Co, Special : Radio C
Military occupational specialty: 776 (radio operator, low speed)
ASN#36068215
Born 1921 in IL, Died 1987
Other residence(s): Eminence (Atlanta), IL; McLean, IL; Shirley, IL; Rockville, IN
United States Army, European Theatre of Operations
Occupation before the war: farmer
James Frantz was born on April 25, 1921 in Atlanta, IL, the fourth of six children. His father was a farmer and later a WPA foreman for ditch-digging projects.
After James completed an eighth grade education, he followed his father's footsteps into farming. He registered for the draft on February 16, 1942 and only a couple of months later, on April 26, married Dorothy Lorraine Zeitler in Atlanta. He enlisted on August 28, 1942 and was eventually assigned to the Signal Company Special. After serving in Europe with the unit, he was discharged on September 20, 1945 at Fort Niagara, NY with the rank of T/5.
James and Dorothy became the parents of four: James, Mary Kay, Keith, and Jane. James spent his whole career as a dairy and grain farmer in McLean, IL and Shirley, IL. His son reports that "a dairy farmer has little time for hobbies," but he was a member of the McLean Masonic Lodge.
In 1964, James sold off 35 dairy cows and a variety of milking and farming equipment. But he continued to farm until 1985 when he retired and auctioned off his remaining equipment.
He died of heart failure on April 6, 1987 in Rockville, IN, and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, west of Armington, IL.
1930 census
1940 census
1942 draft card
1942 wedding announcement in The Pantagraph (Bloomington IL)
1945 Army honorable discharge record
1945 article in The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL) about his discharge from the Army
https://www.newspapers.com/image/70877575/?match=1&terms=james%20h.%20frantz
1950 census
1964 ad in The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL); he is selling his dairy cows and equipment
https://www.newspapers.com/image/75459179/?match=1&terms=james%20h.%20frantz
1985 ad in The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL); he is selling his farm equipment
https://www.newspapers.com/image/73577849/?match=1&terms=james%20h.%20frantz
1987 death certificate
1987 VA death record
1987 Find a Grave record
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154799427/james-h-frantz
2016 wife's obituary in The Pantagraph (Bloomington IL)
https://www.newspapers.com/image/299367618/?match=1&terms=james%20h.%20frantz
2025 (May 25) GALP Veteran Biography Worksheet from son, James W. Frantz