Jane H. Balbach of Warren, IL, age 94, passed away peacefully after spending time with loving family and friends, on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at Lena Living Center in Lena, IL. She was born on April 28, 1930 in Freeport, IL, the only child of William S. Hicks and Grace (Mahon) Hicks. Her early years growing up were on the Mahon farm just south of Nora, IL. Jane was a graduate of the Class of 1947 from Warren High School. Following in her mother and grandmother’s footsteps, she continued her higher education by graduating from the University of Dubuque in the Class of 1951, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music and a minor in history. While in high school Jane met her future husband John at the Warren Opera House at a dance hosted by the Firemen. She married John Henry Balbach on September 13, 1950 at the First United Methodist Church in Freeport, IL. Later they moved to the Hicks’ family farm, homesteaded in 1848 located on the southwest corner of Warren, IL.
In the next few years, their focus was raising a family and welcoming three girls. John bought Jane a baby grand piano when the girls were small and music was a daily event. As an accomplished pianist and organist, she accompanied her husband at many weddings and funerals while he sang. Jane was a lifelong member of Warren’s United Methodist Church, and was their organist for over 25 years; she rarely missed a Sunday service. John and Jane fostered their love of music with their girls’ various musical talents.
As a farmer’s wife, she was most passionate about her family, her faith, and the family farm. For over 60 years as John’s real estate and auctioneering business grew, she was instrumental in supporting the business and he lovingly called her “the Boss”. Her responsibilities evolved as the business grew handling bookkeeping, cashiering, and other business affairs. Even as computers were introduced, she proudly kept records recorded on paper by hand and it showed through her pristine and elegant penmanship.
Jane H. Balbach will be remembered as an extraordinary pianist and a dedicated member of the Warren community. She was the matriarch of our family. Her interest in genealogy and record keeping will continue to assist future generations in connecting the past, the present, and the future of our heritage.
Jane is survived by her three daughters, Sandra (Tom) Shea of Janesville, WI, Marsha Stark of Palm Beach Shores, FL, and Jean (Chris) Beeler of Freeport, IL; three grandchildren, Jenny Stark of Chicago, IL, Heather (Dan) Berlinski of Oconomowoc, WI, and Jeremy Shea of Janesville, WI; two great granddaughters, Emily Jane and Kailey Shea Berlinski of Oconomowoc, WI; as well as her cousins, nieces, a nephew and special friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband John, her brothers and sisters-in-law Carson and Doris Balbach, Ted and Wilma Balbach; her son-in-law Roy Stark; and her best friend Linda Neff.
Her family extends a special thank you to the caregivers of the Lena Living Center.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, at Bartell-Leamon Funeral Home, 519 Tisdell Avenue, Warren, IL. Memorial visitation will take place from 2 until 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at the Bartell-Leamon Funeral Home in Warren, IL. Graveside services will be held privately at a later date at the Elmwood Cemetery in Warren, IL. A reception will follow the funeral service at the Warren Community House. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.leamon.com.
A memorial will be established in Jane’s name at a later date.
