Poland - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in New Middletown for John E. Fanta, 71, who passed away Friday afternoon, November 3, 2017.

John was born October 11, 1946 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a son of Robert and Mary Ellen Ensing Hoogerwerf.

He came to this area in 1969 and worked as a business manager for the John Hancock Insurance Company and for the last 30 years he was working in an auto body repair shop, before retiring. John was a member of St. Paul the Apostle Church and enjoyed being an artist, painting and going to the symphony.

John married the former Caroline A. Miller on August 14, 1987.

Besides his wife he leaves three sons, David Fanta of Charlotte, South Carolina, Michael (Megan) Fanta of Wilmington, North Carolina and Jonathan P. Fanta of Poland; one daughter Kristin (Robert) Higgins of Jacksonville, North Carolina; one sister Patricia Fanta McVey of Wylie, Texas and seven grandchildren Mary Kate, Maggie, Anna Higgins and Rebecca, Reed, Isabel, and Eli Fanta.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister Barbara Jane Fanta.

Friends may call on Thursday in the church before the mass from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.