Age 59 Longtime Resident of Saint Paul. Died on April 3, 2012 of complications resulting from a cardiac arrest. Born in Chicago on February 7, 1953 to Irene Marie (Shepard) Kantner and Harold Herman Kantner, Jeff went to grade schools in Hyde Park and Evanston, graduating from Evanston (IL) Township High School in 1970. After studying photography at Columbia College in Chicago, he graduated from the cabinetmaking program at Saint Paul Technical College, spending his career as a craftsman and master carpenter. A fishing fool, dawn on opening day often found him on Echo Lake in northern Minnesota. Preceded in death by his parents and sister Carol, he will be deeply missed by his siblings, Kristen Ann McCain (Pie Town, NM) and Steven Shepard Kantner (Saint Paul), three nephews and one niece, and two great-nephews. Memorial gifts may be made to The Joy Project, PO Box 16488, St. Paul, MN 55116. A Remembrance Picnic for friends, dogs, and family will be held at the Hidden Falls Park Shelter (S. Mississippi River Blvd and Magoffin) on Friday April 13th from 5 to 7PM.
Jeff Kantner was a classmate when we both attended Nichols Junior High in Evanston. I was a shy, introverted boy who didn't make friends easily, but Jeff and I struck up a friendship; a couple of "uncool" kids making our way through adolescence as best we could.
I remember we amused ourselves and each other by designing "fantasy lockers"; lockers that besides holding coats and books were to be equipped with miniature TV's, tiny refrigerators for snacks and drinks, and other acoutrements. We sketched detailed renderings of our masterpieces.
I grew out of touch with Jeff in the ETHS years. Ever since becoming active on social media and re-discovering many old classmates, I have wondered what became of Jeff. In reading the posted obituary, it's no wonder he didn't turn up on Facebook. FB is not a likely platform for a carpenter and fisherman.
I would not have recognized him from the white-bearded photo. It doesn't jibe with the still-vivid mental image I have of him from the Nichols years. He appears to have done all right for himself, and to have been a good guy as well. His friendship, though short-lived, meant a lot to a boy who lacked confidence in social situations.
Joel Stevens
This link to Jeffrey's obituary was supplied by Joe Weinberg on March 30.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/twincities/obituary.aspx?n=jeffrey-shepard-kantner&pid=156899205
Age 59 Longtime Resident of Saint Paul. Died on April 3, 2012 of complications resulting from a cardiac arrest. Born in Chicago on February 7, 1953 to Irene Marie (Shepard) Kantner and Harold Herman Kantner, Jeff went to grade schools in Hyde Park and Evanston, graduating from Evanston (IL) Township High School in 1970. After studying photography at Columbia College in Chicago, he graduated from the cabinetmaking program at Saint Paul Technical College, spending his career as a craftsman and master carpenter. A fishing fool, dawn on opening day often found him on Echo Lake in northern Minnesota. Preceded in death by his parents and sister Carol, he will be deeply missed by his siblings, Kristen Ann McCain (Pie Town, NM) and Steven Shepard Kantner (Saint Paul), three nephews and one niece, and two great-nephews. Memorial gifts may be made to The Joy Project, PO Box 16488, St. Paul, MN 55116. A Remembrance Picnic for friends, dogs, and family will be held at the Hidden Falls Park Shelter (S. Mississippi River Blvd and Magoffin) on Friday April 13th from 5 to 7PM.
Glenn Winters
Jeff Kantner was a classmate when we both attended Nichols Junior High in Evanston. I was a shy, introverted boy who didn't make friends easily, but Jeff and I struck up a friendship; a couple of "uncool" kids making our way through adolescence as best we could.
I remember we amused ourselves and each other by designing "fantasy lockers"; lockers that besides holding coats and books were to be equipped with miniature TV's, tiny refrigerators for snacks and drinks, and other acoutrements. We sketched detailed renderings of our masterpieces.
I grew out of touch with Jeff in the ETHS years. Ever since becoming active on social media and re-discovering many old classmates, I have wondered what became of Jeff. In reading the posted obituary, it's no wonder he didn't turn up on Facebook. FB is not a likely platform for a carpenter and fisherman.
I would not have recognized him from the white-bearded photo. It doesn't jibe with the still-vivid mental image I have of him from the Nichols years. He appears to have done all right for himself, and to have been a good guy as well. His friendship, though short-lived, meant a lot to a boy who lacked confidence in social situations.