Jean A. Hawley, 80 of Arcadia, NE died Thursday, September 5, 2019 at Rose Lane Home in Loup City, NE with her loving family at her side.
Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at the Arcadia Community Building with Pastor Marlin Hawley officiating. Burial will follow at the Arcadia City Cemetery in Arcadia, NE. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday, September 9 at the Arcadia Community Building. Memorials are suggested to the Arcadia Fire and Rescue, Gideons or donor’s choice. Higgins Funeral Home in Loup City is in charge of arrangements.
Jean Ann Sybrant Hawley passed away September 5, 2019 in Rose Lane Nursing Home in Loup City, Nebraska.
Jean was born May 10, 1939, in Grand Island, Nebraska to Ray and Vivian (Knephoff) Sybrant. Ray moved the family to a farm at Boelus, Nebraska in 1944. They moved to a farm north of Arcadia, Nebraska in 1947 where Jean attended Pleasant Valley School and then Arcadia High school.
Jean married Gene Hawley on February 27, 1956. Kearney, Nebraska was their home from May of 1958 until 1964 when they purchased the 160-acre farm from Ray that Jean grew up on. This was her home until the end. Early in this endeavor with Gene she started a dairy while being a mom to three small children. First two cows, then another, and another, while Gene earned a steady income working construction on Interstate 80. After some income was established from the dairy Gene was able to stay home and the farm grew to include hogs and beef. A new grade A dairy barn in 1969 was Jean’s station in life for the next 30 years. She didn’t seem to mind as it was her way to contribute and she full well knew the value of what she was doing. She was so sad the day the milk cows were no longer needed and were sold. The farm had grown to over 1000 acres.
Jean was mom to five children, loved country and gospel music, and playing cards. Mainly pinochle and pitch and she took her pinochle very seriously. She was well known by family and friends for her ability to bake chocolate cakes, brownies, and pies. But she never failed to say “Let’s make some fudge” when there were people in the house, if she didn’t already have it made. She was a huge fan of Brach’s chocolate stars and Coke.
Jean not only served her family faithfully, but was on the school board for many years, served on the Election Board, and taught Sunday school for many years.
Jean is survived by her husband of 63 years, Gene: children Rick (Susan) of Omaha, NE; Marlin (Shirley) of Weirton, WV; Robbin (Doug) Masters of Arcadia, NE and David (Tammy) of Buckeye, AZ. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, and 24 great grandchildren. Brothers, Jerry (Jean) Sybrant of Greenville, TN, and Darrel (Donna) Sybrant of Broken Bow, NE and her sister Lois (Harold) Holeman of Waukesha, WI.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Vivian Sybrant; her son, Danny; her brother, Larry and her sister in law, Wilma Sybrant.
