Doris Jean (Banta) Sieffert

Doris Jean (Banta) Sieffert, born August 1, 1933, was a near life-long resident of New Castle until her death on March 4, 2014 at the age of 80 in the home she built with her husband. She succumbed after a courageous eight year battle with cancer.

A 1951 graduate of New Castle High School, Jean studied voice and education at Ball State Teachers' College. On October 4, 1952, she married the love of her life, Ronald Sieffert, while he was stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. After his military service, the couple moved back to New Castle where they lived together until his death in 1990.

An accomplished soprano, Jean was an original member of the Jerry Horn Singers. She also performed leading and supporting roles in many early First Nighter's productions, including musical roles in The Boyfriend and Little Mary Sunshine and dramatic roles, like Mornings at Seven, a role she reprised at the Guyer Opera House.

In her later years, Jean discovered her talent for landscape painting and her love for roses, tending and nurturing more than 50 varieties in her gardens, among her many other creative talents.

Along with her parents, grandparents and great grandparents, Jean was a member of the North 14th Street Church of Christ.

In addition to her husband, Ronald, Jean is preceded in death by her parents, Dallas and Della (Utt) Banta and son-in-law, Ken Hansen.

She is survived by two daughters, Michele Kirby and her husband Michael of Indianapolis and Maggie Hansen of New Castle and two brothers, John Banta and his wife, Jan of Xenia, OH, and Robert Banta and his wife, Linda of Springport. She leaves behind four grandchildren, Ambre Sisson and her husband Jimmy of Pendleton, Kris Kirby and his wife, April of Indianapolis, Cory Armstrong of New Castle and Craig Kirby of Bloomington, as well as great-grandchildren, Alec, Tyler, Elayna, Drew, Cayden, Bella, Logan and Lincoln. She is also survived by many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 8, 2014 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle with Mike Kirby officiating. Burial will follow in Hillsboro Cemetery. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Friday, March 7, 2014 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be given to the Indianapolis Zoo, 1200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46222. You may express condolences or share a memory of Doris Jean at www.hinsey-brown.com .