Janice Marie Symiczek

Janice “Jane” Marie Symiczek, 82, of Arcadia, passed away on October 30, 2025.

Jane was one of 5 children born in Arcadia, to her parents: Marian and Aaron Kotlarz. Jane and her siblings were raised on the family farm where they had many fun adventures helping milk cows and playing in the hay barn with the kittens. They would go with their dad to pick hickory nuts. He would shake the tree with the tractor and with the ax and they picked up the nuts on the ground as fast as they could. The hills and fields of the farm were her playground and were the beginning for her love of nature and hunting.

Jane met her husband Edward “Porky” Symiczek at a dance at Club Midway. From the moment they met, they were inseparable and married in 1965. Porky was the love of her life and she enjoyed doing everything for him and with him. Jane and Porky were avid outdoorsmen and they enjoyed hunting turkey and deer together. They occasionally had a little competition with each other to see who could get the first and biggest! Jane was very proud to be featured in Pope and Young magazine for having a prize-winning Whitetail Buck. Jane also tracked and documented an elusive Albino Buck for many years in Monarch Valley from when it was a fawn until it eventually died of old age.

Jane and her husband now own her parent’s family farm which they have lovingly named “Aaron’s Acres” after her Dad. They turned the family farm into a sanctuary adding a fishing pond which is stocked with fish for the little kids to catch. They took immaculate care of the land, ensuring there were crops planted for the wildlife to feast on. They had a beautiful garden that they tended daily and they shared their bounty with family and friends. Sometimes so that family would occasionally share a jar of homemade pickles. Jane loved her pickles!

Jane was also a very proud Aunt, Great Aunt and Great-Great Aunt. When her siblings started having children, Jane and Porky stepped right in and took anyone hunting and fishing who wanted to go. Randy, Shawn and Shay were regular sidekicks and always wanted to go on an adventure especially trout and ice fishing, which they still do to this day. Many times, they would go out just to watch the deer as they were feeding. As those boys grew up Josh and Amie filled their shoes. They were very proud to be a constant part of Josh and Amie’s life. They were especially honored to help be an important part of Amie’s life in her early years. When Josh had his own kids, Jane’s love really blossomed for Brennan and Claire. She would do anything for them. They had her wrapped around their little fingers! 

Janes faith in God was what guided her in life. She was an active member of the Independence Lutheran Church and was a part of the church’s Women’s Group.

Jane is survived by her adoring husband Edward (Porky) Symiczek, her loving siblings, Louise Feuling, Aaron Kotlarz Jr, Susan Gunderson, half-sister Sandy (Francis) Rotering, and many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews who were so special to her.

Jane was predeceased by her parents, Marian and Aaron Kotlarz, Sr; grandparents: Florence and Joseph Kowhal-Ressel and Mike and Anna Motszko-Kotlarz; mother-in-law: Jessie Symiczek Dumback; father-in-law Dominic Symiczek; sister and brother-in-law Shirley and Bob Hanson; and half-brothers Jim and Tim Andre.

Family and friends are welcome for visitation from 11 AM to 1 PM on Friday, November 7, 2025, at the Wozney-Killian Funeral Home with a prayer service beginning at 1 PM officiated by Pastor Heidi Bragger. Burial will follow at Bethel Lutheran Cemetery, rural Independence, WI. Memorials can be directed to the Independence Lutheran Church Women’s Group. To leave an online condolence for her family, please visit www.wozneykillianfh.com.