Dennis “Denny” Lantis, a longtime police officer in the McHenry area, loved his tough line of work but also made friends as a skilled antique refinisher who once restored two bars for a Harvard tavern after a devastating fire.
Mr. Lantis joined the Harvard Police Department in the 1960s and later become a detective with the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department.
“Being a detective was his life,” said his son, Tim. “He was very highly respected for treating everybody fairly. He didn’t hound people. … His other skill was really knowing how to handle hard situations, like domestic violence calls, where he was able to calm people down without it escalating further. He was really good at that.”
Mr. Lantis, 67, of Harvard, died in his sleep on Friday, Sept. 29, possibly of an embolism, family members said.
Mr. Lantis retired from the sheriff’s department after 20 years in law enforcement.
As a hobby, he began restoring antique furniture. In 1996 Red’s Tavern and Pizzeria in Harvard burned down, and the only salvageable items were the bars, said owner Red Gates.
Mr. Lantis offered to refinish the bars, which grace the restored restaurant.
“He didn’t even want any money for it. He just wanted to help us out,” Gates said. “They are 86 years old, so we really didn’t want to lose them, and he did a great job.”
One of 11 children, Mr. Lantis was born and raised in Big Stone City, S.D.
When his family moved to Harvard, he worked at the Admiral Television Co. before starting his career as a police officer.
“Family was always No. 1 to him,” said his brother, Dave. “Everything he did was for them.”
Mr. Lantis had two children with his first wife, Sherry, who was killed in a car crash in 1975. His second wife, Alyce, died in 1999.
Mr. Lantis was a member of the Harvard Moose Lodge. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and restoring antique cars.
Other survivors include a daughter, Julie Randecker; a sister, Shirley Wegner; a stepson, Steve Lewellen; a stepdaughter, Colleen Condon; and nine grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home, 107 W. Sumner St., Harvard.
