Mary Jean Fanta, age 83 years, a lifelong Hillsboro area resident, passed away on Friday, Oct. 25, 2013 at her home.

She was born on June 11, 1930 to Joseph J. and Christine (Wopat) Sinkule in the Town of Hillsboro.  She grew to adulthood on the family farm and attended Hillsdale Grade School and graduated from the Hillsboro High School in 1948.   While in high school she worked at the Bakery.

Mary Jean was united in marriage to Raymond J. Fanta on June 16, 1948 at St. John’s Catholic Church at Dilly.  They farmed the Fanta Century Farm for 45 years in Union Township, where they also raised three daughters and two sons.  In addition to her work on the farm, she worked part time at Spring Valley, Piggly Wiggly and the parachute sewing factory.  Raymond preceded her in death on Nov. 8, 1993.

She moved to her new home in Hillsboro in 2007 and retired that year from quality control at Lands End at the age of 76.  In her retirement she enjoyed quilting, baking, card club, Red Hatters, listening to Czech music and volunteering at the Good Samaritan, but her greatest enjoyment was spending many good times with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Survivors include her daughters, Connie (John) Parker of Brandon, South Dakota, Janeen (Ken) Jameson of Balsam Lake, WI and Lynette (Joel) Penshorn of Hillsboro; nine grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren and two brothers, Joe A. (Eva) Sinkule of Hillsboro and Tom (Joyce) Sinkule of Sauk Prairie.

In addition to her husband, Raymond, she was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Rodney and Scott; two sons-in-law, David Obert and Robert Downing; brother, Bernard Sinkule and a special friend, Leonard Housner.

A celebration of Mary Jean’s life took place on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013 with a time of visitation for family and friends from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Picha Funeral Home in Hillsboro.

A private family graveside service will take place at a later date at the St. John’s Cemetery, Dilly.

For online information go to www.pichafuneralhomes.com