Obituary for Richard Irwin Kantner
Richard (”Dick”) I. Kantner, Sr., age 85, beloved husband, Dad, “Poppi” and friend, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2021, after a long battle with cancer. Just as he dealt with all experiences in life, Dick managed his illness with an unwavering faith, quiet strength, and grace, never surrendering, so that he could spend as much time with his loved ones as possible. On his final day, he was surrounded by his wife of 62 years, and children, who he adored more than anything else in the world.
Dick was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and grew up on the rural 46-acre family home in the Riggles Gap area of Altoona. He went on to graduate from Altoona High School in 1955, and attended Wheaton College, later transferring to and graduating from Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA, with a business degree in 1959, where he played trumpet in the collegiate jazz band. One week after graduating, he married his high school sweetheart, the love of his life, Elaine Wineland.
Dick and Elaine lived in 4 southern states in the first 2 years of marriage (he attended Duke Law School and also lived in SC, GA, and VA), until finally settling in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in 1962. He earned a master’s degree in education from Florida Atlantic University, then taught school in the Broward County public school system, traveled the country recruiting teachers for the county, taught at Nova University (and coached the tennis team), and beginning in 1971, served as principal and helped grow the fledgling private school, American Heritage, now the largest private school in Florida. In 1976, he moved his family to Brevard and the mountains that he had visited and loved so much. Dick taught math and coached the boy’s tennis team (and his son) at Brevard High School for two years. In 1985, he returned to American Heritage as lower-school headmaster and vice-president, serving those roles until retiring in 2001, and was honored with the naming of a campus building as “Kantner Hall”. Upon retiring he and Elaine returned to Brevard, where he resided until his passing.
Dick would give the shirt off his back to assist any in need. With his ever-present glowing smile, positive attitude, sense of humor, and warm and friendly personality, he was an immediate friend to any and all that had the fortune of meeting him. He loved spending time with his family, playing hand and foot with his granddaughters and friends, attending Brevard Wesleyan, meeting with his men’s Bible-study group, playing tennis, boating on Lake Toxaway, watching sports, traveling, vintage cars, ice cream, education, the Christmas season, hiking and picnics in Pisgah National Forest with his grandkids, the change of seasons, and his beloved rescue dog, Lucky, who was always at his side. Quite simply he loved life, but above all, he loved God and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Dick is predeceased by his parents Robert Clifford Kantner and Ruth Irwin Kantner, aunt, Ruth (“Oofie”) Kantner, and brother, Rev. Dr. Robert O. Kantner. He is survived by his wife, Elaine W. Kantner, daughters Kimberly (Denny) Whitmire of Brevard, Kristen K. London of Fernandina Beach, FL, Kara (Eric) Durden of Jacksonville, FL, and son, Rick (Sharon) Kantner of St. Petersburg, FL; his grandchildren, Heather (Daniel) McNeely, Jessica Whitmire, Stephen Alford, Kelly Alford, Caroline Kantner, and Kate Kantner; his great-grandchildren, Ella Grace McNeely, and Denver McNeely; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at Brevard Wesleyan Church for family and friends. Rev. Richard Jelley and Rev. Hank Moffitt will officiate. The family will be receiving visitors from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Brevard Wesleyan Church, 583 N Broad St, Brevard, NC 28712 or American Cancer Society to fund prostate cancer research.
Dick was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and grew up on the rural 46-acre family home in the Riggles Gap area of Altoona. He went on to graduate from Altoona High School in 1955, and attended Wheaton College, later transferring to and graduating from Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA, with a business degree in 1959, where he played trumpet in the collegiate jazz band. One week after graduating, he married his high school sweetheart, the love of his life, Elaine Wineland.
Dick and Elaine lived in 4 southern states in the first 2 years of marriage (he attended Duke Law School and also lived in SC, GA, and VA), until finally settling in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in 1962. He earned a master’s degree in education from Florida Atlantic University, then taught school in the Broward County public school system, traveled the country recruiting teachers for the county, taught at Nova University (and coached the tennis team), and beginning in 1971, served as principal and helped grow the fledgling private school, American Heritage, now the largest private school in Florida. In 1976, he moved his family to Brevard and the mountains that he had visited and loved so much. Dick taught math and coached the boy’s tennis team (and his son) at Brevard High School for two years. In 1985, he returned to American Heritage as lower-school headmaster and vice-president, serving those roles until retiring in 2001, and was honored with the naming of a campus building as “Kantner Hall”. Upon retiring he and Elaine returned to Brevard, where he resided until his passing.
Dick would give the shirt off his back to assist any in need. With his ever-present glowing smile, positive attitude, sense of humor, and warm and friendly personality, he was an immediate friend to any and all that had the fortune of meeting him. He loved spending time with his family, playing hand and foot with his granddaughters and friends, attending Brevard Wesleyan, meeting with his men’s Bible-study group, playing tennis, boating on Lake Toxaway, watching sports, traveling, vintage cars, ice cream, education, the Christmas season, hiking and picnics in Pisgah National Forest with his grandkids, the change of seasons, and his beloved rescue dog, Lucky, who was always at his side. Quite simply he loved life, but above all, he loved God and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Dick is predeceased by his parents Robert Clifford Kantner and Ruth Irwin Kantner, aunt, Ruth (“Oofie”) Kantner, and brother, Rev. Dr. Robert O. Kantner. He is survived by his wife, Elaine W. Kantner, daughters Kimberly (Denny) Whitmire of Brevard, Kristen K. London of Fernandina Beach, FL, Kara (Eric) Durden of Jacksonville, FL, and son, Rick (Sharon) Kantner of St. Petersburg, FL; his grandchildren, Heather (Daniel) McNeely, Jessica Whitmire, Stephen Alford, Kelly Alford, Caroline Kantner, and Kate Kantner; his great-grandchildren, Ella Grace McNeely, and Denver McNeely; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at Brevard Wesleyan Church for family and friends. Rev. Richard Jelley and Rev. Hank Moffitt will officiate. The family will be receiving visitors from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Brevard Wesleyan Church, 583 N Broad St, Brevard, NC 28712 or American Cancer Society to fund prostate cancer research.