Richard Allan Jantz

What can I say? I just lost my best friend, my confidant, my rock, and the love of my life. Rich was not just a part of my life; he was the joy that filled every moment. His warmth and happiness were infectious, helping me through the deaths of my little sister, my mom, and then my dad. It felt like someone had shot a big hole in my heart. I didn’t know how I was going to get through all this loss. But Rich was always there with me, bringing joy and warmth to every moment. He held me when I cried, took me out for ice cream or sundaes when I was sad, and found new comedy shows for us to watch. My favorite thing was that he wrapped his arms around me and cuddled me all night.

Rich enjoyed building things. He worked on projects like cutting gourds for a friend so she could turn them into magnificent Indian artwork, making sliding shelves for our kitchen pantry and cabinets so I could reach everything, and creating a barn-style door for our bedroom. He even made an entertainment center for my father that perfectly mirrored the curves and lines of his existing furniture. Together, we completely remodeled our house in the Centennial area; there wasn’t a room we didn’t redesign. Rich loved the wood in our home and was always happy to touch it up in places that had been neglected. He completely gutted the basement bathroom with his friend Bruce, installed a working jet tub, added tile floors and walls surrounding it, and replaced all the fixtures. We put a lot of blood (as Rich always said, if there isn’t blood, then it wasn’t a project), sweat, and tears into that home.

Another thing Rich loved was taking weekend drives up to Estes Park. We stayed in little cabins along the river, took long walks enjoying the scenery, and visited the town shops. We found some of our favorite paintings, ornaments, and lamps up there. On one trip, we were walking along the road when a small herd of moose made their presence known, prompting us to make ourselves scarce.

Around that time, we started talking about moving to a place like Montrose, as Denver was getting too big. We had already escaped the craziness on weekends by driving up to our trailer in Hartsel, a beautiful place where we could unwind and enjoy life. We spent as much time as possible there, taking in the scenery, watching the buffalo go by, and, most importantly, just being together and loving each other. Rich’s passion for fishing also played a role in our retirement location. He and his friends took advantage of all the fantastic fishing spots in Colorado, including yearly horseback trips to stunning locations with excellent fishing opportunities. They fished in rivers and lakes using belly boats, one-person pontoon boats, and his friend Bob's fishing boat.

We also loved visiting Grand Lake to see Rich’s sister, Nancy, and her husband, Wes. Nancy and I would occasionally join the guys on Wes's boat, and we had a great time. While the boys went fishing, Nancy and I enjoyed shopping and lunch in town. A good time was had by all.

We enjoyed traveling to various destinations, including the western slope, Vail, Hawaii, and Alaska (twice). In September 2024, we took a cruise back to Alaska, and I had a feeling it would be our last trip. Rich was getting tired. Our trip included five days on Mount Denali and Mt. McKinley, where we witnessed beauty that reveals itself only a few times a year. We saw the peak of Mt. Denali, a sight rarely visible at that time of year due to low cloud cover and fog. It was amazing. We enjoyed freshly caught salmon and cod for dinner each night, and the views were spectacular. There was also a theater where we watched a presentation of a group attempting to climb Mt. Denali. We witnessed their journey, celebrating their successes while empathizing with their setbacks—without having to endure the sub-zero temperatures.

Another presentation we enjoyed was an hour-long movie about an Alaskan gentleman who filmed the glorious aurora borealis, which was very visible in Alaska that year. A gentleman beside us shared colorful pictures his daughter took in Castle Pines. They said it was a good year for nature to showcase its breathtaking beauty.

As we boarded the cruise ship, the weather was cold, rainy, and windy, leaving us soaked until we reached the ship. By this time, Rich was tiring quickly. We encountered a few days when our plans didn’t go as expected, including not making the salmon fishing trip. However, we enjoyed the Deadliest Catch excursion, which gave us a great inside look at the show. Despite the challenges, we decided to focus on what we knew we could do and ultimately had a glorious time. It was a journey that tested our resilience and our love for each other, and we emerged stronger and more connected than ever.

As we reflected on our almost 22 years together, we smiled, reminiscing about our many adventures. Rich and I were not just partners but companions in every sense. He enjoyed fishing with his friends, building beautiful furniture, and, most importantly, our deep love for one another. Our love was a flame that burned brightly, and I am profoundly grateful for every moment we shared. I wish we had more time together; I miss him so much. But our love was profound, and it will always remain in my heart. A Celebration of Rich's Life will be held at Crippin Funeral Home Chapel, 802 East Main Street, Montrose CO on Friday, February 7th, 2025, at 10am. All are welcome. 

All my love, always,

Janice