Obituaries

Mark David Lantz passed away April 3, 2019 from complications due to heart conditions. Mark was well loved, friendly and a laid-back guy. He was born on May 23, 1953 in Portland Oregon. Mark grew up with an interest, fostered by his father Dave Lantz, in electronics. The 60’s were the new era of the transistor and amateur kit building.  The smell of solder smoke hung in the basement of his family’s NE Seattle home as he built gadgets and radios from kits.

Mark graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1971 then attended community college at North Seattle CC. Over those two years his interests eventually shifted to a love of photography.  Mark was accepted at both Brooks Institute and Art Center College of Design. He chose to study at the latter and excelled in the technical aspects of photography and produced a portfolio of work. Returning to Seattle he worked at a studio then shifted his focus back to his original passion of electronics. At Royal which eventually became Konica Business machines Mark worked as a tech for over 10 years. Many friends and connections were made over those years. His interest in computers started to accelerate in the 80’s and through the early 90’s Mark trained himself in software, PCs and IT.  These newly acquired skills landed him a job as CTO for his brother Don’s company; Encore Brokers. Mark was kept very busy fixing sick computers, especially rampant those early years as a new technology was moving at light speed.

It was during the 80’s and 90’s that Mark joined his father and his brothers in the pursuit of fly fishing. He traveled with his family fishing in eastern Washington, Sun Valley, Yellowstone Park and central Oregon. It was on the Fall river near Bend Oregon where the Lantz family enjoyed renting two modest cabins on a private stretch of river owned by a department store magnate from Portland OR. Over the same period of time Mark enjoyed shows such as “This Old House and Antique Roadshow”. Mark was content to spend a Saturday in his comfortable home watching his favorite fix-it-up shows.  He loved to relate what he learned to friends, co-workers and family members.

As the new millennium neared Mark’s health began to wane. He had challenges with his heart which were treated with minor procedures. His blood pressure was steadily increasing and it was discovered that he had a rogue gene mutation. Mark was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD). His brother Dale actively enlisted his advertising agency to provide pro-bono work for the PKD Foundation and Dale sat on the board for eight years. Mark had to undergo dialysis treatments at Valley General for years. He seldom mentioned the hours lost and discomfort while his body was cleansed. Dialysis takes its toll and as the months and years passed the prognosis for keeping Mark healthy with dialysis dimmed. In September of 2006 Mark received a call in the early hours of the morning that a perfect (young) kidney match had just become available.  Mark underwent a successful transplant at the UW medical center and was given a new lease on life. Family and friends rejoiced at the news of Mark’s new life. He continued working at Encore which eventually was purchased by Acosta foods. His brother Don, a partner with Encore, made sure Mark would have a career with Acosta going forward.

Mark was able to work from his home in Kent for the last several years leading up to his retirement in September of 2018. It was there he spent the last six months of his life enjoying several new pursuits including 3D printing and radio controlled model planes. Mark possessed a truly passionate curiosity and was a gadget lover right up to the days before he passed.

Mark will dearly be missed by all.   Mark is survived by his father, David W. Lantz, brothers Don, Dale and Kurt Lantz. He is additionally survived by his niece Kelly Lantz and nephews: Jay, David, Jon and Michael Lantz.

Mark’s family request all who remember this beautiful man consider making a donation in his name to UW Medicine at http://depts.washington.edu/givemed/