Orland Fara

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   Orland Dean Fara was born June 25th 1931 to George William Fara and Bessie Jane (Barker) Fara at the Lutheran Hospital, Sioux City, Iowa. He was the oldest of 4 children (Mary Ann, Jack and Jim), growing up near Akron, Iowa. Orland grew up, working about the farm at an early age, during the “dirty 30’s” as he called it.

   He attended grade school at Preston #4, and high school at Akron, Iowa, graduating as valedictorian in 1950.  Orland attended Iowa State University, graduating  with a degree in Ag Business. He was a member of the Farm Operations Club, Phi-Eta-Sigma National Honor Society and participated in the Ag Travel Course.

   Orland was inducted into the US Army  and served from 1953-1955 spending 13 months in Korea. He was assigned to a searchlight battalion which was positioned in front of the front lines and later served as administrative sergeant at the battery headquarters. He returned to the farm near Akron.

   Orland was united in marriage to Ona Dean Voss on August 28th 1955. They are the parents of 3 sons, Dean, Alan and Michael.  Orland was employed as a field serviceman at Boyden Coop, then  at France Grain and Feed in Cherokee before becoming the general manager for Walter Caldwell, Inc. at Prairie City, Iowa. In  October 1966 Orland and Ona purchased the Manning Mill and moved to Manning, Iowa. Together, they operated the Manning Agricultural Center, serving the area for 40 years until their retirement in 2007.

   Orland was involved with many community and statewide organizations. He was a member of the 1st Presbyterian Church where he served as Elder and Trustee. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, VFW, American Legion, Hausbarn Committee  and Abu Bakir Shriners. Orland promoted agriculture with his service to the Iowa Crop Improvement Association, Iowa Certified Seed Association, Iowa Corn Growers, Iowa Soybean Association, Boyden 4-H Club Leader, Carroll County Extension Council and the Iowa Feed and Grain Association.

   Orland sought to bring jobs and industry to the Manning area and played a role in locating the Consoy bean plant(what is now AGP), the Tall Corn Ethanol plant (now Poet)  and helped to prevent the abandonment of the Burlington Northern Railway which still gives daily rail service to the area. Orland liked to tell stories and seemed to have a real life story to fit almost any situation. He was the “ultimate  multitasker” and seemed to be at his best when he was on the phone, had other  callers “on hold” and people waiting to talk to him in between.

   When his health began to fail, Orland moved to the Manning Plaza Nursing Home in Manning, Iowa, and he died there on April 22, 2018.  He was 86 years, 9 months and 28 days.  Orland was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mary Ann, sister-in-law Janice Fara (Jack)  and his son Dean. He is survived by his wife Ona Dean Fara, Manning; daughter-in-law Dr. Kim Fara, George;  son Alan Fara (Laura), Manning; son Michael Fara (Kathy), Irwin; 8 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; brother Jack Fara, Akron; brother Jim Fara (Joanna), Cincinnati OH; nieces, nephews, and friends.

Rev. Nancy Anderson

Rev. John Pea & Rev. Darrel Mohler

Music

DeEtte Grabill, Vocalist

Connie Siepker, Organist

Steven Fara, Christin Aldridge, Dr. Elizabeth Carter, Nate Fara, Sharon Blanchard, Megan Fara, Nick Fara, Eric Fara