April 17, 1941 — February 28, 2022
Frederick Otto Rantz
It is time to let the world know that our complicated, talented, vibrant, fertile, music-loving, norm-ignoring, psychedelic, joyful, strong-willed, hypnosis master, magical dance energy, contemplative, philosophical, other-worldly, radiant father, Frederick Otto Rantz, passed away peacefully in his sleep at 3am on February 28th, 2022, after a hard-fought battle against an incurable stroke on February 18th and subsequent complications throughout the following week.
Fred is survived by four siblings: Judy (Redmond, WA), Barbie (Newport Beach, CA), Jerry (Edgewood, WA), and Jenny (Greendale, WI); five children: Freddy (Lake Forest Park, WA), Merry (Lake Roesiger, WA), Devon (Grass Valley, CA), Terin (Fairbanks, AK), and Julianne (various US Navy locations); and eight grandchildren: A.J. (Kent, WA); Arianna (Lynnwood, WA); Lucy, Max, and Cooper (Grass Valley, CA); Lyla and Camilla (Fairbanks, AK); and James (Jacksonville, NC). Fred was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Joe and Joyce, and his beautiful grandson Joe.
Fred was the first-born son of 1936 Olympic rower Joseph Harry Rantz, who was featured in the NYT Bestseller The Boys In the Boat, and wife Joyce Dayette Simdars Rantz. After graduating from the University of Washington, Joe and Joyce moved to Rodeo, CA, for Joe’s employment, and Fred was born at the nearest hospital in Albany, CA. Joe took a job with Boeing Aircraft shortly thereafter and the family moved back to the Seattle area. Fred grew up in Lake Forest Park, north of Seattle. He attended LFP Elementary, Thomas Hunt Morgan Junior High, and Shoreline High Schools. Fred loved music. He excelled on the trumpet, performing “Bugler’s Holiday” in a trumpet trio in junior high school and winning the state competition in high school. He played the guitar; sang in the LFP and Washington Cathedral church choirs; and thoroughly enjoyed karaoke and live band jam sessions. Fred never played on an official sports team, but was very athletic and loved swimming, baseball, football, tennis, basketball and skiing. He also excelled at pinochle, chess, Scrabble, Perquacky, and similar games of contemplation and strategy. Fred enjoyed magic; wrestling; coin collecting; experiencing powerful live music; reading and writing; exploring and adventure; connecting with his many loved ones; and defying socially-accepted standards in nearly all aspects of life.
Fred was a traveling entrepreneur and a man of many trades. He started out as a young newspaper delivery boy who grew to operate a regional distribution shack before graduating high school. He was an accomplished salesman in numerous fields. Fred was a founding teacher/instructor/administrator with The Community School (an avant-garde experiential-learning school for children of the 1960’s and 70’s in the Seattle area). He followed his passions in astrology, self-actualization, and other life-coaching topics as a consultant with Fred Rantz and Associates. He became a master hypnosis therapist, past-life regression specialist, and hypnosis professor. He taught at the University of Washington Experimental College, as well as decades of workshops and trainings. Fred was the owner/operator of Daddy’s Dugout sports card shop in Medford, OR; Thousand Trails campground membership liaison; purveyor of collectibles; and many other opportunities throughout his expansive life. He often returned to his childhood home in Lake Forest Park, WA.
Fred intended to continue his practice of hypnosis; sell campground memberships; and travel in his RV for the rest of his life. This all changed in 2007 when he endured a near-death car accident just hours after learning his father had passed away. Fred spent a month in the Harborview ICU; survived over 50 hours of intensive surgeries; powered through more than six challenging months at a rehabilitation center; and eventually returned to his adventures on the road. Fred’s new reality left him with numerous handicaps; extreme mobility limitations; constant reliance upon crutches; and the next 15 years in one level or another of pain and disability. Somehow still, he approached each day as a fresh start and never lost his sense of humor or his vibrant smile. Fred traveled and partied with his friends and family for as long as he could, and eventually settled his mind, body, and RV back in Lake Forest Park, where his son Freddy owned the family home. These last six years gave Fred much comfort; time to pause and reflect; bonding opportunities with his first-born child; and a sense of peace reconnecting with his roots.
Fred lived every day of his life to the fullest extent possible; doing the best he could with what he had at each particular moment. He was the master of living in the NOW, and his powerful spirit soars as the energy and melody of music and color dancing freely through the stars. Let us honor Fred with deep breath and the communal vibration of ooohhhmmmmmm…
The post first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.