Wayne B. Farrey

Wayne B. Farrey, age 89, passed away on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at Orchard Manor Nursing Home, rural Lancaster. He peacefully went home to be with his Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. With joy, we anticipate seeing him again; though now we wait and celebrate his memorable well-lived life. Wayne was born in Leadmine, Wisconsin on December 15, 1931 to Robert and Blanche (Cook) Farrey. After graduating in 1949 from Benton High School, Wayne served stateside in the United States Army driving a rations vehicle and later built tractors at John Deere Dubuque Tractor Works for 31 years. On November 22, 1952 Wayne married Kathryn R. Kaufman at The First Baptist Church and raised six children. For 60+ years, Wayne‘s love for Christ, his wife, family and others demonstrated a remarkable care for those around him. Wayne’s zeal for life was fueled by his joy of family, hard work, helping others and his generously kind heart full of a very dry sense of humor and teasing. Wayne was an active member of Calvary Community Church for many years and faithfully served in a variety of ways: leading praise and worship, teaching and groundskeeping. Wayne really enjoyed time with family, watching the Chicago Cubs play and supporting his grandkids and all their activities. Following his retirement from John Deere, Wayne and Kathryn traveled as he sang with The Fever River Boys gospel quartet for various organizations and senior living centers. The quartet was formed in Wayne’s teen years and reunited in retirement. What a tremendous legacy of love Wayne lived and passed on to his family, friends and community.

Survivors include his children: Greg Farrey, Jeff (Lynn) Farrey, Tim (Jane) Farrey, Rhonda DiBell, David (Cathy) Farrey and Becky (David) Bannach, 16 grandchildren, 6 great grandsons, a brother: Gordon (Claudia “Sam”) Farrey, two sisters-in-law: Gladys and Karen Farrey, brother-in-law: Melvin (Margaret) Kaufman, other relatives and many friends.

In addition to his parents, Wayne was preceded in death by his loving wife of 68 years, Kathryn on January 20, 2021, his son-in-law Doug DiBell and siblings: Donald (Lorraine), Dale, Carl, Lois (John) Clark and Nancy (Jack) Russell, two brothers-in-law: Glen and William Kaufman, and a sister-in-law: Virginia Kaufman.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Martin Schwartz Funeral Home and Crematory in Lancaster with Reverend Mark Dieter officiating. Burial with military honors will be in the Hillside Cemetery in Lancaster. Family and friends may call on Monday, May 3, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home. In lieu of plants and flowers, a Wayne B. Farrey memorial fund has been established.

The Farrey family wants to thank the staff at Orchard Manor for all the care and attention given to Wayne the past few months.