Gary "Lee" Frantz

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Dr. Lee Frantz was born Gary "Lee" Frantz on October 17, 1948, in San Diego, California to Charles P. Frantz of Norristown, PA and Phyllis (Schanley) Frantz of Quakertown, PA.

Lee’s lifelong passion was to learn and teach something every day. In his first 10 years of Air Force service he achieved a rating of Airborne Instructor Maintenance Technician (IMT) on C-130BII and RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft. The remainder of his 26.5 years of service were spent as a traditional Air National Guard member (5 years) and then as an USAF Active Duty (11.5 years) Food, Lodging, and Mortuary Trainer with Nebraska Air National Guard. He served on staff assistant teams across the country for the National Guard Bureau and as a member of an IG inspection team and was honorably retired from the Air Force in 1995. Lee pursued education with a dogged determination – with the sole purpose of passing on knowledge to others. Lee held an A.A.S in Food and Lodging Operations from the Community College of the Air Force; a B.S. in Home Economics (Administrative Dietetic major) from the University of Nebraska-Omaha; an M.S. in Dietetics Restaurant and Institutional Management from Kansas State University; and a PH.D. in Family and Consumer Sciences (major studies in restaurant operations and minor studies in adult education and instructional technologies) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Lee was certified a Food Management Professional (FMP) by the National Restaurant Association in 1999.

In 2009, Lee retired as an Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management, and Graduate School Fellow, at South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD. In retirement he taught Tourism, Event and Lodging Management online for Southeast Community College’s Business and Hospitality Programs.

Lee was an ordained ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church, USA and loved volunteering at Camp Calvin Crest, Conference and Retreat Center, in Fremont, NE.

Lee was an active member of Optimist International and supported Nebraska’s high school Academic Decathlon competitions. Lee and his wife, Donna, enjoyed traveling which included the pursuit of Volkssporting Events (5 and 10K walks) sponsored by the American and International Volkssporting Associations. They completed sponsored walks in 49 states.

Lee is survived by the love of his life, Donna Campbell, Omaha, son James L. Frantz of Wellington, CO, daughter Heather L. (Jason) Muhleka of Bellevue, NE, sister Jean Amber (John) McGuire of Dalton, NH, four grandchildren: Brittany, Peyton, Blazek, and Jase, three great grandchildren: Sa’Renity, Le’Myah, Za’Reya; nieces, great nephew, cousins, extended family, and friends.

Funeral Service, Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Faithful Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 2530 S. 165th Ave, Omaha, NE.

Visitation will be one hour before services at the Church.

Graveside Service with full military honors, Monday, May 1, 2023 at 10:00 AM, Omaha, National Cemetery

Memorials may be directed to Faithful Shepherd Presbyterian Church.

Brian P. Harvey Funeral Home, Plattsmouth, NE  402-296-4445. www.bpharveyfuneralhome.com