It is with sadness that we mourn the passing of Ella (Peggie) Lantz-Woerner. She died on Dec 26, 2018, in Douglas, Arizona, at the age of 99.
Peggie, as she preferred to be called, was born on Oct 26, 1919, in
Hanna, Wyoming. She was married at age 23 to Joseph Massey, an officer in the famous Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). They spent a few years of married life traveling while he worked on CCC projects in Grand Lake and Saguache, Colorado. She became a widow in 1944, when Joseph died in the infamous
sinking of the SS Leopoldville troop transport in World War II. She met Robert Joseph Lantz and they were married in 1945. They lived on the east side of Cleveland where they raised two sons, Joseph Lantz and Jack Lentz. In the early 1970’s, Peggie, now divorced, moved to Mesa, Arizona, and lived with her sister Mazie. With Mazie as her inspiration, Peggie became very active in her church,
Church of the Master. She was a Deacon for many years and was very active in the Deacon’s Cupboard program where she helped collect food, clothing, and furniture to be distributed to those in need. She was also a mentor to families who were recent immigrants to the US from places like Africa. It was at church that Peggie met another very active member, John Woerner. They were married in the 1990’s. John passed away in August, 2016 at the age of 102. Peggie was preceded in death by her husbands Joseph Massey, Robert Lantz and John Woerner, all WWII veterans, and her grandson,
Kamm Lentz. She is survived by her sons Joseph Lantz, Jack Lentz and her daughter-in-law Nancy Lewis . Peggie was a kind and loving sister, mother, wife and friend. She will be greatly missed.