Elgin Emil Fanta age 92, of rural LaFarge, Wisconsin, passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at Vernon Manor in Viroqua, WI.
He was born May 23, 1933 to Emil and Helen (Picha) Fanta at the family dairy farm in Town of Greenwood, Vernon County, Wisconsin. Elgin attended rural Staley grade school through sixth grade until closing and through eighth grade at neighboring rural Debello School. He completed his education at Hillsboro High School graduating during the year of 1951. He was then employed at the former Kickapoo Fertilizer Plant in Hillsboro years later purchased by the Hillsboro Farmer's Co-operative.
After being drafted into the U.S. Army October 6, 1954, was sent to Fort Leonard, Missouri Sixths Armored Division basing training and after completing basic training attended U.S. Army Signal School course at Camp Gordon, Georgia including Communication and Morse Code messaging. Elgin's tour of duty was completed October 25, 1956 with the rank of Specialist (SPC) at an aircraft base in Detroit Michigan. He had served twenty days more than two years of active duty because he became ill shortly before discharged. This was a period of time between the Korean and Vietnam Wars and was rated under the Korean War era. After Army discharge he began working for the Hillsboro Farmers Co-op including labor and Management training.
Elgin was united in marriage to Mary (Liska) Fanta June 3, 1958 at St John's Catholic Church-Dilly, rural Hillsboro by Rev. Father Lestinsky.
After time, Mary and Elgin decided to purchase the dairy and hog farm from Mary's parents. Due to her parents’ health problems, they could not continue farming. Elgin was then voted in to be one of the Directors of the Hillsboro Farmers Co-op.
Their son, Allan and wife, Sharla later purchased the farm. Elgin at that time became branch manager of the Hillsboro Farmers Co-op located at the Yuba feed mill before retiring.
Elgin also enjoyed farming, logging, harvesting, selling firewood, gardening, deer hunting, wild turkey hunting, fishing, and enjoyed his forty-inch mounted Muskie, the only he ever caught.
Elgin was also elected by residents as Town of Union board member in 1963. He was appointed by the Town of Union board to serve as Chairman until Monday April 1973 to complete the unexpired term of the late Chairman, James J. Cervenka passing away April 18, 1972. Elgin had been elected as Town of Union board member for 10 years and Town Chairman fifty years for a total of sixty years, before retiring April 18, 2023 at the Annual Town Board meeting. It was an emotional evening later for Elgin on June 29, 2024, the Town Board presented Elgin by having the new salt and sand storage building metal sign dedicated in his name.
Elgin was preceded in death by his father, Emil Fanta; mother, Helen (Picha) Fanta; Lyle Morris, partner of Kathy for many years and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Fanta; daughter, Kathryn Fanta; son, Allan and wife Sharla Fanta; granddaughter, Nikole Rae Paulson and husband Justin Paulson; great grandson, Brooks Paulson; brother, Ernie and Karen Fanta; nephew, Michael and Chris Fanta and family and niece, Shari Fanta (Eden Effert).
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Picha Funeral Home with Father Don Bauer officiating. Visitation for friends and relatives will be from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday at the Picha Funeral Home. Interment with military rites will be in St. John’s Catholic cemetery, rural Hillsboro.
Memorials may be provided for the La Farge Ambulance Association or La Farge Fire Department.
The Picha Funeral Home in Hillsboro is assisting with arrangements.
