Jerry J. Fanta

1939 - 2025

Jerry J. Fanta

January 27, 1939 - October 7, 2025

Jerry J. Fanta, 86, of St. Paul, Nebraska, went home to meet his Lord on October 7, 2025, at Brookefield Park in St. Paul, due to natural causes.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Grand Island. Pastor Jeff Pedersen will be officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:00 - 10:00 A.M. prior to services at the church. Interment will be held in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. on Monday, October 13, 2025, at Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul.

Jerry Jim Fanta was born on January 27, 1939, in Ansley, Nebraska, to John and Marie (Sedlak) Fanta, immigrants from Czechoslovakia. He attended various schools in Custer County and Howard County, before graduating from Farwell High School in Farwell, Nebraska in 1956.

Jerry worked for several farmers and with his brother, Johnny, before buying his own farm west of Dannebrog. Jerry married Carol (Findley) of Grand Island on December 17, 1977. They would go on to raise their five children, Korey, Jennifer, Jim, Ken and Jeremy on that same farm.

They lived on the farm for 42 years raising corn, wheat, milo and hogs. Jerry semi-retired from farming and then worked for Menards in Grand Island for 12 years before retiring in May of 2010.

Jerry also had his own band named Jerry's Polka Band for about 35 years playing for many area wedding dances, anniversaries, birthday celebrations, etc. When his band broke up, he and his wife began entertaining at nursing and retirement homes with Jerry on accordion and Carol on the drums. In September of 2019, they moved off the farm into St. Paul. They maintained their membership with St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Grand Island where they were married.

Jerry had a unique sense of humor that bordered on slapstick comedy. He often told anecdotes at work that become known as "Jerry jokes." He was a big man with a big heart but was a kid at heart. In fact, when Jerry and Carol got married, his brother Frank commented, "maybe now he'll grow up." He was always the one to play with the kids and left the disciplining to Carol. His kids, nieces and nephews all loved being around him. Music was a huge part of his life and whenever there were family gatherings, his accordion would soon be brought out. He loved the dumplings, kraut and kolaches, both traditions of his Czech heritage. He was very proud of his Czech heritage and spoke the language fluently. In fact, several friends in this area also had family members in Czechoslovakia, who wrote them letters in the Czech language, and they would bring them to Jerry to translate for them. His wife affectionately called him her "gentle giant." He is greatly missed and leaves a very loving legacy.

Jerry made many, many friends in his lifetime as he was so interested in people and always remembered them and their kids' names and where they lived. For many years after his retirement when he met someone on the street, they would remember him from Menard's and that he always remembered their family.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Carol of St. Paul; children, Korey (Tracy) Fanta of Cairo, Jim (Megan) Fanta of Dannebrog, Ken (Abby) Fanta of Omaha, and Jeremy (Jessica) Fanta of Grand Island; 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Also left to mourn his passing are his sisters, Emma Trouba of Elkhorn, and Evelyn (John) Martens of Plano, Texas; sisters-in-law, Vickie Fanta of Elkhorn and Marlene Fanta of Creighton; and son-in-law, Russ Pavlik of Grand Island.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Jennifer Pavlik; brothers, Johnny, Willy and Frank; sister, Hilda Jares; and brothers-in-law, Don Trouba and Clayton Jares.

Memorials are suggested to St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Grand Island or to the family for later designation.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.jacobsengreenway.com.