September 1, 1927  -  August 27, 2003

Memorial services were held for Merle Farrens at 10:30 a.m.. on Saturday, August 30, 2003, at the Decatur United Methodist Church in Decatur.

Merle Spencer Farrens passed away on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at the Burgess Health Center in Onawa, IA, at the age of 75 years, just four days prior to his 76th birthday.

Pastor Philip Sloat officiated at the services.  Ethelyn Brewer was organist.  Vocalists were Ethelyn Brewer and Mary Bacon.  Masonic Lodge No 31 A.F. & A.M. performed a Graveside Masonic Service.  Interment was at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Decatur.  At the cemetery grandson, Cody Farrens and Great-nephew Adam Andersen played taps.  Military Graveside Rites were presented by V.F.W. Gleason-Rogers Post No. 6926 and the American Legion Rogers-Crum Post No. 215.  Honorary pall bearers were the Decatur Fire and Rescue Squad.

Merle Farrens was born September 1, 1927 in Martin, SD.  He was one of five sons born to Roy E. and Sarah Marie (Schroder) Farrens.

When Merle was two years of age, the Farrens family relocated to a farm southeast of Decatur, in the Lake Quinnebaugh area.  He attended grade school at the rural Farrens School and graduated from Decatur High School in 1944.  Following graduation, he attended Dana College in Blair, NE.

Merle returned to the farm and in 1951, was drafted into the U.S. Army.  He served overseas during the Korean War for two years and was honorably discharged on December 22, 1952.  Following his discharge, Merle returned to Decatur.

On November 25, 1953, Merle and Mary Janet Maryott were united in Marriage at Decatur.  They farmed in the Decatur area until Merle's retirement in 1998.

Over the years, Merle's love of baseball drew him to the sport as he played for various teams throughout the area.  At the height of his career, he was signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and played with their farm team in Albany, Georgia.  He pitched for the Decatur Town Team at a time when baseball was of great interest to the community.  He also played for the Pioneer Night League and pitched for other programs in the Midwest.

Merle was an active member of the Decatur Community.  He coached junior league baseball and was a committee chairman for the Farm Service Agency (FSA), where he was recently honored for 45 years of service.  Merle was on the Rural Fire Board for 35 years, as well as the Decatur School Board, the Decatur United Methodist Church Board and NAEFEC.  He also served for 21 years on the REA Board of Directors, where his final term was spent as president.  Merle was a member of the Masonic Lodge No 31, A.F. & A.M. and he recently received his 50-year pin.  He was a member and past commander of the V.F.W. Gleason-Rogers Post No 6926.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Sarah; his beloved wife, Mary Janet; brothers, Kenny and Lyle; brother-in-law, Jack Maryott; sister-in-law, Lelah Drummond Farrens.

Survivors include his sons & daughters-in-law: Tom and Norma, Mike and Paula, all of Decatur; daughter, Pam Farrens of Lincoln, Nebraska; brothers and sisters-in-law Eldon and Dorothy Farrens of Decatur; Lynn and Karen Farrens of Sunnyvale, CA; brother and sisters -in-law, Jerry Maryott, Jackie Eagleton Maryott and Evonne Hightree Snow, all of Decatur.  Special friend, Dorothy Nottleman of Decatur; nine grandchildren, as well as nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of family and friends.

Memorials, sent to the family, may go to the Decatur Rural Fire Department.

Funeral arrangements were handled by Hamel-Peck-Pelan Funeral Home.