John William Trantow

John William Trantow passed away at the Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee on Thursday, April 9, 2009.

John was born May 12, 1924, in Kelso, Wash., to parents Ruth E. Lineberry and Walter W. Trantow. He graduated from Kelso High School in 1942 and started his education at the University of Washington in 1942, where he pledged membership in the Zeta Psi Fraternity.

When WWII broke out, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943 and served in Belgium as a rifleman scout in the 99th Infantry Division. He left the front line on Thanksgiving Day 1944, with frozen feet, just weeks before the Battle of the Bulge. He returned to the USA to recuperate and finish his U.S. service at Camp Roberts, Calif., and was discharged from Fort Lewis in 1945. He received the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, the American Theatre Service Medal, the Victory Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.

In the fall of 1945, he returned to the University of Washington, and received a Bachelor of Science with a major in zoology in 1949. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Washington and began his career as a Family Practice Physician in Quincy in 1957, partnering with Dr. James A. Stansfield.

On June 29, 1957, John married Ann Wiegardt, a Washington State University graduate (a Cougar!) from Ocean Park, Wash., who had been teaching in the Vancouver area.

John and Ann spent the next 52 years together, raising four children in Quincy. John and his partner Jim provided medical care for the communities of Soap Lake, Ephrata and Quincy through the Soap Lake and Ephrata hospitals and the Quincy Valley Medical Clinic. In 1959, the Quincy Valley Hospital was built and there John provided family and internal medicine services, emergency care, surgical procedures and delivered over one thousand babies during the 30 years he enjoyed practicing medicine in the Columbia Basin.

John’s great love (besides Ann) was boating. He was a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Commander of the Auxiliary’s Ephrata Flotilla. He owned many boats throughout his lifetime and was usually found at the helm, guiding his own flotilla through the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands. John and his family spent many happy summers at their cabin at Lake Roosevelt, boating, fishing, swimming and enjoying Ann’s cooking.

John was an active member of the Quincy Rotary Club for 52 years. He also greatly enjoyed his weekly meetings with the men of the Quincy Culture Club. He was a member of the Quincy Moose Lodge and the Quincy First Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include his wife Ann Trantow; son Michael (Lynn Krayer) Trantow; daughters Lynn (Mark Battles) Trantow , Leslie (Dan) Tarbert , and Janice (Greg) Merlino; grandchildren Emily, Monica, Patrick, Claire, Sarah, Andi, Makaila, Mallory, Rebecca, Sophia and Jane. Preceding him in death were his mother and father Ruth and Count (W.W.) Trantow.

John Trantow was a loving husband, dedicated father and grandfather, a respected member of the community and die-hard Husky fan. He will be remembered and deeply missed by his friends and family. The Trantow family would especially like to thank John’s partner, Dr. James A. Stansfield for his friendship and loving care of John on the morning of his death.

A celebration of John’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2009, at the First Presbyterian Church in Quincy. Memorial donations may be made to the Quincy Rotary Club Scholarship Fund or the Reiman-Simmons House in Quincy.

You may sign the guest book or leave a note to the family at www.scharbachs.com. Scharbach’s Columbia Funeral Chapel in Quincy is in charge of arrangements.