Van Farowe, Rev. Carl H. 1931-2012

VAN FAROWE, PYLE, GOWENS, KELLY

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/23/2021 at 14:20:40

Rev. Carl H. Van Farowe

May 22, 1931 - February 3, 2012
Born in Williamson, NY
Resided in Waukee, IA

The Reverend Carl Van Farowe, 80, of Waukee died Friday, February 3, 2012, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines from complications from a fall. His family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 7 at Meredith Drive Reformed Church. Memorial Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 8 at Meredith Drive Reformed Church. Burial will be at a later date at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Lansing, IL.

Carl Henry Van Farowe was born on May 22, 1931 in Williamson, NY to the late Rev. Richard J. and Nella (Pyle) Van Farowe. He grew up and graduated from high school in Portage, MI. He attended Hope College in Holland, MI, where he earned his BA in 1953, and participated in choir and track and field where he excelled in the high hurdles. In 1956, he obtained his Masters of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary and was married to Meryl K. Gowens.

Rev. Van Farowe ministered in Reformed Churches in Southgate, MI and Tampa, FL before becoming the senior pastor of Meredith Drive Reformed Church in Des Moines in 1968. In subsequent years he was employed by Preferred Risk Mutual Insurance Company and served as interim pastor of Stover Memorial Church of the Brethren in Des Moines. During this time he was also actively involved in the work of the Bethel Mission men's shelter and the movie evangelism Mark IV Pictures. He retired in 1998 after 42 years of full-time, professional ministry but continued to remain active as the Minister to Senior Adults at Meredith Drive Reformed Church and as a guest preacher in numerous churches and retirement communities throughout central Iowa. He could frequently be found ministering to the needs of those in Des Moines area hospitals, nursing homes and hospice.

Rev. Van Farowe served on the board of directors of Valley View Village, was an active member of the Evangelical Chaplain Ministries and a volunteer for International Cooperating Ministries. He enjoyed playing the piano, singing hymns, attending local college and high school sporting events and visiting his children and grandchildren in Colorado.

Rev. Van Farowe was preceded in death by his wife, Meryl "Kay" Van Farowe in 2002. Those left to cherish his memory include his daughter, Cynthia K. Van Farowe, M.D. (Tammas Kelly, M.D.) and their children, Sarah and Blair Kelly all of Fort Collins, CO; son, Paul (Nancy) Van Farowe and their children, Annika and Daniel Van Farowe all of Fort Collins; son, John Van Farowe of Grimes; and brother, George (Dorothy) Van Farowe of Traverse City, MI.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Meredith Drive Reformed Church Missions Fund or the Reformed Church in America Building Fund.

ARRANGEMENTS BY ILES FUNERAL HOMES ~ WESTOVER CHAPEL. ~ The Des Moines (IA) Register 06 Feb 2012.