A memorial service was held February 24 at Decatur United Methodist Church for Eldon E. Farrens of Decatur.  He died February 21, 2005 at Burgess Health Center in Onawa, Iowa, at the age of 86.

He was born February 20, 1919, in Decatur, to Roy and Sarah (Schroder) Farrens. He graduated from Decatur High School in 1936 and attended the University of Nebraska, and Dana College in Blair, enrolled in their flight training program.

Eldon enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and served as a flight instructor with the Gulf Coast Training Command during World War II.  He was alter promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel in the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged on May 6, 1946.

He was united in marriage to Dorothy Olbrey on November 29, 1946, at St. Paul's Methodist Church in Omaha.

Trading airplanes for tractors, he farmed north of Decatur for the next 50 years.  He also worked as a civil engineer, building dams and flood control projects for the Corps of Engineers.

Memberships included United Methodist Church, Eastern Star and Masonic Lodge, where he was holder of the Bronze Jordan Medal, having been a Mason for over 60 years.

Eldon retired from farming and the Corps of Engineers and became a winter Texan.  He and Dorothy traveled extensively for the next 25 years, visiting all the continental states.  His favorite pastimes were playing and watching baseball and football. He loved chasing golf balls and occasionally feeding bait to the fish.

Preceding him in death were his parents; wife on December 7, 2003, and brothers and sisters-in-law, Kenneth Farrens, Lyle and Lelah Farrens, and Merle and Mary Janet Farrens.

Surviving are sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Diane Farrens of Murrieta, CA, and Roy and Lisa Farrens of Chadron; daughters and son-in-law, Marilyn and Randy Andersen of Decatur and Kathryn Farrens and Ricky Miles of Bancroft; 14 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, Lynn and Karen Farrens of Sunnyvale, CA; brother-in-law, George Olbrey of Omaha; sister-in-law, Evonne Snow of Decatur, and cousin, Clara Ehlers of Blair.

The Rev Philip Sloat officiated the service and Helen Phelps was organist.  Larry Mussack was vocalist and  Farron Wambold played an oboe solo.

Burial was at Hilcrest Cemetery, Decatur, with military honors by VFW Gleason-Rogers Post No 6926 and American Legion Rogers-Crum Post No 215.

Memorials may be sent to Decatur United Methodist Church or the American Heart Association.