Résumé

Cabinetmaker, Auburn Cabinet Works, Auburn, WA, c. 1941. At this time, his father George Klontz operated the Auburn Cabinet works operated at 36 West Main Street in Auburn. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 96, accessed 10/22/2024.)

Service as an officer in the US Army, World War II.

Associated Architect, Bliss Moore, Jr., and Associates, 1946-1951. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1948, p. 740.)

Principal, James M. Klontz and Associates, Seattle, WA, 1951-1957. In 1956, Klontz had an office in Room #784 of the Dexter Horton Building in Downtown Seattle. (See Seattle City Directory, 1956, p. 201.

Partner, Klontz and Wrede, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1957- .

Professional Activities

Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA), Washington / Seattle Chapter, 1949- .

During his career, Klontz enjoyed good relations with Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle, obtaining the commissions for several churches and parochial schools. Reinforcing these connections, he was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

High School / College

Graduate,

B.Arch., University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 1943. Klontz enrolled in Army ROTC training while at the University of Washington.

Coursework, University of Paris, 1945.

College Awards

American Institute of Architects School Medal, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 1943.

Elected to Tau Sigma Delta, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 1943.

Relocation

The son of George Klontz and Mary Ellen Lavin, James Mathias Klontz was born at the Kent Hospital in Kent, WA, on 05/03/1920. In 1920, the Klontz family resided on a farm in a rural King County Township, Valley Precinct, likely near Auburn. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Valley, King, Washington; Roll: T625_1925; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 64, accessed 10/21/2024.) The family owned their house at this same location in 1930. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Valley, King, Washington; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0378; FHL microfilm: 2342239, accessed 10/21/2024.)

The 1940 US Census, recorded that the Klontz Family resided at 441 C Street SW in Auburn. The family owned its residence, valued at a modest $2,500. The immediate neighborhood was not affluent, and contained a large number of rented dwellings. Many residents were first-generation immigrants. Most residents were Euro-American in background, but many different countries were represented.The area also supported several Japanese-American renters who worked as truck farmers in 1940. (Minoru Yamasaki, eight years older than James Klontz, and his family had lived briefly in Auburn c. 1927.) (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Auburn, King, Washington; Roll: m-t0627-04343; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 17-10, accessed 10/22/2024.) A year later, James continued to lived at 441 C Street SW with his parents. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 96, accessed 10/22/2024.)

Klontz resided at 1741 12th Avenue South in Seattle, WA, in 1948. He worked for the architect Bliss Moore, Jr., at that time. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1948, p. 740.)

In 1993, Klontz lived at 3504 30th Avenue in West Seattle.

Parents

His parents were George John Klontz (born 06/24/1891 in Hartley, IA-d. 08/21/1973 in Auburn, WA) and Mary Ellen Lavin (born 04/26/1887 in West Fork, IN-d. 10/26/1972 in Auburn, WA). James's parents wed on 03/23/1918 in Auburn, WA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013; Reference Number: kingcoarchmc63434, accessed 10/21/2024.) Two years after their wedding, George worked as a carpenter, as per the 1920 US Census. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Valley, King, Washington; Roll: T625_1925; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 64, accessed 10/21/2024.) The 1930 US Census noted that George worked as a carpenter of cabinetry. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Valley, King, Washington; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0378; FHL microfilm: 2342239, accessed 10/21/2024.) At some point, George became a naturalized Canadian citizen, although it is not clear when.

George's parents were John Klontz (born 08/23/1857-d. 12/22/1942 in Seattle, WA) and Eva Flick (born 1853-d. 11/12/1939 in Auburn, WA), both born in Luxembourg. They wed in 1886 and came to the US in 1887 or 1888, (the former date recorded in the 1900 US Census, the latter date in that of 1910). John and Eva had had eight children together, and farmed in Wilmont, MN between 1890s and 1910s, at least. They relocated to Auburn, WA by 1920. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Willmont, Nobles, Minnesota; Roll: 778; Page: 6; Enumeration District: 0218, accessed 12/21/2024, Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Wilmont, Nobles, Minnesota; Roll: T624_709; Page: 8b; Enumeration District: 0154; FHL microfilm: 1374722, accessed 10/21/2024 and Ancestry.com Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Auburn, King, Washington; Roll: T625_1924; Page: 31A; Enumeration District: 6, accessed 10/21/2024.)

Because of her husband's Canadian nationality, Mary Ellen filed for US citizenship 02/15/1925. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (Nara); Washington, D.C.; Naturalization Records of the U.s. District Court For the Western District of Washington, 1890-1957; Microfilm Roll: 67; Microfilm Serial: M1542, accessed 10/21/2024.)

Born to a large family with at least nine siblings, Mary Ellen’s parents were Irish immigrants: John Ambrose Lavin (born 1850 inBallyhaunis, Ireland-d. 11/03/1905 in Perry County, IN)and Catherine E. Manningborn 1856 in County Cork, Ireland-d. 1936 in Crawford County, IN)​.

The 1940 US Census listed George as having finished school at grade 8. Mary had completed two years of college.(See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Auburn, King, Washington; Roll: m-t0627-04343; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 17-10, accessed 10/22/2024.)

James was the eldest of six brothers. His siblings included: Martin G. Klontz (born c. 1921), Joseph Edward Klontz, Francis Klontz, Lawrence Eugene Klontz (who went by the name, "Gene,") and Thomas Patrick Klontz. (Thank you to Joyce Klontz, James's daughter, who included the names of two other siblings, Eugene and Tom, whom I neglected to include. This information, and two other corrects on the record of James M. Klontz occurred on 10/21/2024. See email from Joyce Klontz to the author, 10/21/2024.)

Spouse

Klontz married Angie Gomes on 01/15/1949.

Biographical Notes

His World War II draft registration card indicated that Klontz was Caucasian with a ruddy complexion, brown eyes and black hair. He stood 5-feet, 10-inches tall and weighed 145 pounds on 07/01/1941. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 96, accessed 10/22/2024.)

Member, Reserve Officers Association, Seattle, WA, c. 1962.

Member, Knights of Columbus, Board of Directors, Seattle, WA, c. 1962.

• Kent, WA (Architect's Birth)
  Kent, WA

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