THOMAS EDWARD VONTZ

Thomas Edward Vontz of Buttonwillow passed away at his home surrounded by loved ones on December 31, 2025, following a two-year battle with cancer. He was 87 years old. Tom was born on March 30, 1938 in Indianola, Nebraska to Marion and Elda (Colling) Vontz. He was the youngest of their 6 sons. He graduated from Indianola High School where he was a gifted athlete and lettered in every sport. Tom married his high school sweetheart Janice (Klocke) Vontz who passed away in 2013 after 57 years of marriage. Together Tom and Janice had 9 children who wouldn’t have traded him for the world! In 1960, the family moved to California. First landing in Merced, then on to Fresno, before settling in Buttonwillow in 1970 to work as an operator at the Pacific Gas & Electric substation. In later years, he picked up farming on the side and even tried his hand at raising cattle.

Tom was very involved in the Buttonwillow community as a valued member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Buttonwillow Pioneer Seniors. He coached various sports that his kids participated in, and he loved every minute of it! Tom was a kid at heart and even though he had a house full of his own children, their friends were always welcome. The more the merrier was his mantra. Tom was a people person who gave everyone the benefit of the doubt and treated people he met with kindness and respect no matter their past history. For that he gained some very devoted friendships, some of whom have shared how his help and influence saved their life or made them a better person. He was compassionate and generous to a fault and modeled this behavior to his children. Tom would give a stranger the shirt off his back even if he didn’t have it to give. Along with all these great attributes, he also was an unconventional thinker who came up with some wild ideas from time to time and there was no talking him out of them! Tom came from a midwestern card playing family background. He played cards up until a few weeks before he passed. His favorite game was Bridge where he often used his unconventional thinking skills. To know Tom was to love him and sometimes even be frustrated by him!

In 2014, Tom married Joyce Wilson, a family friend, who has been a godsend to him and his family. Joyce embraced the Vontz family with open arms as she gained 9 stepchildren, their spouses, numerous extra grandchildren and great grandchildren overnight and Tom gained an extra son, Mitchell Wilson, to even out his tribe of 5 girls and now 5 boys. Tom and Joyce enjoyed many cross-country trips together in their 11 years of marriage. They loved visiting historical sights, national parks, and various points of interest while spending time with friends and family along the way. Their refrigerator is covered with souvenir magnets of all the places they visited together. Joyce has proven to be the perfect fit for Tom!

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Elda Vontz, wife, Janice Vontz, his 5 brothers, Cliff, Bill, Phil, Ronnie and Larry, and son-in-law John Cauzza III.

Tom is survived by his loving wife Joyce, his son Jeff Vontz (Linda), son Mike Vontz (Janet), daughter Susie Atkinson (Darrell), daughter Laura Cauzza, daughter Patsy Janzen, son Doug Vontz, son Keith Vontz (Francis), daughter Christi Hearn (John), daughter Vicki Vontz, stepson Mitchell Wilson (Justin), 17 grandchildren, and 24 great grandchildren.

A special thanks to the Bristol Hospice staff who cared for Tom, Monsignor Daniel Lopez for his spiritual support, and Nick Sage who voluntarily went above and beyond to help Tom through the final stages of his cancer ordeal.

A celebration of Tom’s life will be held on January 16th 2026 at 10:30 a.m. in the Community Center of Riverlakes Community Church, located at 4301 Calloway Drive, Bakersfield, CA.

Tom’s Funeral Mass and burial will take place in his hometown of Indianola, Nebraska at a later date.

In leu of flowers, donations can be made in Tom’s honor to one of the following:

St. Mary’s Catholic Church at P.O. Box 875 Buttonwillow, CA. 93206 

The Buttonwillow Pioneer Seniors at P.O. Box 702 Buttonwillow, CA. 93206