Caleb Fontanez

Caleb Fontanez, 86, of Manhattan, NY, passed away from ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) on September 6, 2017 at the Ben Atchley Veterans Home in Knoxville, TN. “Cal” (as he was known to all) was born in New York City to Frank and Josephine Fontanez on June 21, 1931. He was a Veteran during the Korean War era (enlisting at the age of 16) and served in the Army Special Forces Airborne Division as a sharpshooter and radio operator in Europe and Guam until 1957. Cal married Carmen Llauger on July 21, 1955 in New York City. He pursued education all his life and attended Jr College in Los Angeles, CA pursuing a degree in electronics. He worked as an electronic technician for several manufacturing companies over the years, eventually retiring from Voight Aircraft in 2002. He was involved in the Boy Scouts of America for years serving as a mentor and scoutmaster to young men in Troy, Ohio. Cal loved spending time in the outdoors, hiking, camping and exploring whenever he could. He and Carmen lived and raised a family in 6 States before retiring to Knoxville. Cal is preceded in death by his sisters Martha, Amelia, Belia and Esther and by his brothers Victor and Samuel. He is survived by his loving wife Carmen; children and spouses Will and Susan Fontanez, Edward and Lora Fontanez, Josephine and Chuck Steipp, Virginia and Mike Green; brothers Dan, Joseph, Moses, Felix and Frank Fontanez; grandchildren Theresa and Anthony Bucco, Elizabeth Bloomfield, Allison Heiss, Garrett and Kara Fontanez, Greg and Ryan Shepherd, and Jennifer Mizzi; and great-grandchildren Lily and Ambrose Bloomfield, Wyatt, Miles and Asher Heiss. The Fontanez Family wishes to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to all of the fine employees of Ben Atchley State Veteran's Home. Their excellent care and love for Cal will always be remembered. They greatly helped to make the best of a difficult affliction and a life taken too soon. Your struggle is over Cal, rest in peace, we all love you. The family will receive friends from 2:00pm-4:00pm, Sunday, September 10, at Mynatt Funeral Home Halls Chapel, 4131 East Emory Rd, Knoxville, TN with a short service to follow at 4pm, officiated by son-in-law Reverend Mike Green. Family and friends will meet at 9:15am Tuesday, September 12, at the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, 2200 East Governor John Sevier Hwy, Knoxville, TN, for a committal service at 9:30am with full military honors. Please leave online condolences for the Fontanez family at www.mynattfh.com.