Jane Antonissen peacefully met her savior on her 85th birthday, August 17, 2011. We can only imagine the birthday celebration she is having in her "everlasting home"! She was born on August 17, 1926, at home in Niagara, to John Sigurd and Hilma (Peltama) Holmquist. After five boys, Earl, Sigurd, Allen, Gale and Walter, the birth of a sister was joyous. The Swedish spelling of the word sister is syster, thus came Syster Jane (her given name). Two more girls were born, Jean and June. All except her youngest sister June, who was very special to her, preceded Jane in death, along with her grandson, Cody DePas. In 1944, upon graduation from Niagara High School, Jane worked at the Niagara Bank for three years. On June 18, 1947, Jane married Henry Antonissen who took over the dairy farm from his parents. She learned to operate milking machines and worked alongside Henry helping with the daily morning and evening milking. As partners, they successfully farmed the homestead for 36 years. In 2010, they celebrated 63 years of marriage. Henry died unexpectedly 9 months ago. Jane found happiness in everyday things. She always had a smile and could be heard singing or humming a favorite song. Jane tended a large vegetable fruit garden and took pride in her rows of canned and frozen produce, jams and jellies. Her special talent was baking. Her father had been a baker, and Jane duplicated many of his Finnish recipes. The cookie jars always had at least two varieties. Fresh baked breads avoided ever having a loaf of store bought bread in the house. It was her cinnamon rolls though that all the children and grandchildren looked forward to most. She participated in the Niagara Friendship Club, a group of women from the West side of Niagara who met monthly for a social gathering. Jane served as Secretary for many years. She also was an active member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church where she served on the Alter Guild, and assisted with Vacation Bible School. Jane took pride in creating a beautiful home for her family. In 1983, Henry and Jane built a retirement home a quarter-mile from the farm. Jane especially enjoyed having her grandchildren spend weeks in the summer with her and Henry where they would picnic, attend the fair, or just drink root beer floats on the back porch. Retirement also allowed them to travel throughout the United States visiting family. Left to cherish Jane's memory is one daughter: Nancy (C.Dwayne) Whitfield, Hobart Wisconsin, two sons: John (Kay) Antonissen, Marinette, Wisconsin, David (Sharon) Antonissen, Niagara. Nine grandchildren: Karen (Paul) Higgs, Kimberly Whitfield, Brenden (Rebecca) Whitfield, Amy, Julia, Casey, Hannah, David Jon Antonissen, Sarah DePas. Four great-grandchildren: Matthew and Mary Helen Higgs, Aubrey and Brinley Whitfield, numerous nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, and brothers-in-law. Visitation will be Monday, August 22, 2011, from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Kingsford. Funeral services will be Monday 11:00 a.m. at the church. Pastor Paul Kelto will officiate. Burial will be in Niagara Cemetery, Niagara. Memorials, in Jane's memory can be made to the building fund of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Special thank you to the wonderful staff at Angel Touch Assisted Living in DePere, who created a compassionate and caring home for mother to spend her last nine months. You may also light a candle in remembrance of Jane or leave a condolence for her family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com. The Jacobs Funeral Home, Niagara Chapel, is serving the family.