Farley, Wilmer R. 1905-1978

FARLEY, REID, JOHNSON, LOWARY, GANFIELD, FOSSEY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 11/29/2011 at 21:40:17

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; July 20, 1978

RITES HELD FOR MR. FARLEY ON WEDNESDAY

Wilmer R. Farley, 72, of Exira, a former resident of Poweshiek County, died Wednesday, July 12, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.

Funeral services for Mr. Farley were held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Eugene Soland officiating. Organist was Mrs. Norman Leistad and flower bearers were Mr. and Mrs. Chris Christensen and Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Johnson. Pallbearers were his neighbors, Alfred Clausen, Albert Anderson, Lanny Olson, Willis Hansen, Dale Petersen, and Emory Hoegh. Burial was at the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery in Elk Horn.

The son of Joseph and Clara Ann Reid Farley, he was born Nov. 15, 1905, in Pleasant Township. He attended rural school near the family farm home, graduating from Grinnell High School in 1927. He was active in young people's work at the Ewart United Presbyterian Church and in 4-H. As a 4-H leader, he organized the first pig club in the county. He continued work as a 4-H leader for 28 years in Poweshiek, Shelby and Audubon counties.

On Jan. 15, 1930, he was married to Una E. Johnson of Elk Horn. He was a livestock and grain farmer and began farming on the Farley homestead near Ewart. In March 1933, Mr. and Mrs. Farley moved to Elk Horn where they continued farming. The couple had two daughters, Mariam Mae and Jo Ann.

His wife, Una, died on June 1, 1971. Mr. Farley then married Genevive Allen Lowary in 1973 and continued to farm until his retirement in 1975.

He was a member of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church, the Masonic Lodge and O.E.S. at Marne, and the National Hereford Breeders Association, and he was involved in many community activities.

Survivors include his wife, Genevive; his two daughters, Mrs. Mariam Mae Ganfield and Mrs. Jo Ann Fossey of Kansas city, Mo.; two grandchildren; a great-grandson; and a sister, Leila S. Farley of Grinnell. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Una; and three brothers, Leo E., Robert Gordon, and Emory Srelus.