FARMER, Charles Wade 1919-2006

FARMER, WATSON

Posted By: K. Kittleson
Date: 11/30/2008 at 22:02:57

Service:
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Trinity United Methodist Church
601 Milwaukee Street
Charles City, Iowa

Charles W. "Bud" "Charlie" Farmer, Jr., 86, of Spirit Lake, died peacefully in the early morning hours of April 20, 2006 at Spirit Lake. He had been in declining health for several months.

Charles Wade Farmer, Jr., was born December 10, 1919 at Benton, Iowa, the eldest son of C. Wade and L. Adrian (Watson) Farmer. He was graduated from high school in Cambria, Iowa (where his father was Superintendent of Schools), and received bachelors degrees from Northwest Missouri State University and Iowa State University. He received his masters degree from the University of Iowa, and earned a number of academic credits toward a PhD. degree in education at the same institution.

Mr. Farmer served his country heroically during World War II as a member of the 784th Antiaircraft Artillery, landing in Normandy in the third wave during the Allied invasion. He was a part of the campaign, under General Patton, to secure the Brest peninsula. He participated in the Allied captures of Cologne and of Munich, and was a member of one of the first units to enter the concentration camp at Dachau. He received numerous military decorations, including the Bronze and Silver Stars and the Belgian Forgerre Braid.

Following the war, Mr. Farmer returned to Iowa and began a long and distinguished career as a teacher, coach, and school administrator. He taught at Lone Rock, Allison, Chester, Waverly, and Spirit Lake, serving in the last position for 22 years as elementary school principal.

A gifted athlete as a young man, Mr. Farmer played semi-professional baseball for several years, and was an avid golfer, tennis player, and fisherman in later years.

He was active as a local and regional leader in the Boy Scouts of America in northwestern Iowa, served as Commander of John W. Kidd Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4514 in Spirit Lake, was past president of the Spirit Lake Kiwanis Club, past president of the Lakes Conference Principals Association, and past secretary of the Northwest Iowa Principals Association. He was a member of the Spirit Lake United Methodist Church.

He was a wise and kind man, an amiable companion, generous with his time and his many talents, and devoted to his country, to his family, and to the welfare of the youth he taught, many of whom stayed in touch with him until his death.

There are no immediate survivors. Mr. Farmer was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Lewis and Marvin Farmer; and two sisters, Marjory (Johannes) Andresen and Mavis (Giles) Smith. He is survived by a brother-in-law, Giles Smith; a sister-in-law, Paulette Farmer; five nieces; a nephew; and numerous cousins.

[Hauser Funeral Home obituary - www.hauserfh.com ]