Franklin B. Schantz Sr.

Franklin Brooke Schantz, 95, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Flower Mound, Texas. He was born on September 29, 1930, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to Charles Goranflo Schantz and Ethel Mae (Brooke) Schantz. Frank served in the United States Navy from 1951 through 1957. He met Grace Ann Sacramento at an Eagles Club Dance and they married on May 15, 1954. They spent 66 wonderful years together until the death of his wife, Grace, on December 9, 2020.

In their early years after leaving the U.S. Navy, Frank worked for the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. In 1965, the family moved from Norfolk, Virginia, to Waukegan, Illinois, where he worked as an electrician and electrical supervisor for Johnson Outboards until his retirement in 1992.

Spending time with his family is what brought Frank the most happiness. Frank and Grace and family traveled often and went on numerous cruises and many family vacations and loved visiting his children and grandchildren in Rensselaer, Indiana and Dallas, Texas. He and Grace loved making trips to Branson, Missouri, to see many of the shows there. After Grace passed, Frank in 2022, moved to Riverwalk Flats, a senior living apartment complex in Flower Mound, Texas, which he referred to as “The Resort”. He made many good friends there and enjoyed being part of that retirement community.

He was a great Dad and grandfather, who has been an inspiration to his children and grandchildren who loved him. Frank is survived by his three children: Franklin Jr. (Melinda), Mark (Martha) and JoAnn Cooksey (Jeffrey), and his six grandchildren: Brooke (Dan), Sarah (Eric), Elizabeth (Ian), Michael, Joseph and Grace-Erin and four great-grandchildren: Ellie, Frankie, Fiona, and Bennett. He is preceded in death by his wife, Grace, and his parents: Charles and Ethel, two brothers: Charles and Ronald, and four sisters: Betty, Doris (Dolly), Barbara and Georgia.

There will be a memorial service at Warren Funeral Home, in Gurnee, Illinois, on April 18, 2026, at 10:30 A.M. CST, with Entombment following at Ascension Catholic Cemetery in Libertyville, Illinois. Warren Funeral Home and Ascension Catholic Cemetery are assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Jude’s Childrens Research Hospital, Wounded Warriors or Operation Smile.