Paul H. Farber, 76, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, died on Jan. 31, 2025, at Bickford of Cedar Falls after enduring Alzheimer’s disease for 4 years. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the Faith United Methodist Church, located at 107 4th Street North in Humboldt, Iowa. A reception will be held in the church hall following the service, with private family burial at Indian Mound Cemetery near Humboldt.
Paul was born March 25,1948 in Anthon, Iowa, the only child to Homer and Marjorie E. (Bueoy) Farber. He graduated from Anthon-Oto High School and earned his bachelor’s degree from Upper Iowa University. From the age of 29, Paul was a dedicated member of several local law enforcement agencies, spanning a 38-year-long career. He wore the uniform honorably for the Humboldt, Iowa Police Department, where he served as Chief of Police from 1985 until 1987. Paul went on to serve as Chief of Police for several more communities, including Estherville, Iowa from 1987 until 1999, Village of Peotone, Illinois from 1999 until 2005, and for Rantoul, Illinois Police Department from 2005 until his well-deserved retirement in 2015. Paul was united in marriage to Deanna J. Monson on March 23,1985 in Humboldt. He was the proud father to four children and grandpa to eleven grandchildren. Paul never missed an opportunity to watch a baseball game, especially his beloved New York Yankees. He was a passionate supporter of professional wrestling. Paul had helped to promote both amateur and professional events throughout the Midwest, including several charitable wrestling matches benefiting local communities. Paul was known to enter the ring, himself, wrestling under the name “The Chief.” He volunteered at the Dan Gable Wrestling Museum in Waterloo, Iowa. Paul was a D.A.R.E. instructor, a little league baseball coach and he created mentoring programs for teens. Paul is survived by his wife of thirty-nine years, Deanna of Cedar Falls; his four children, Patti (Joe) Surma of Waterloo, Tracy (Kirk) Olson of Estherville, Amy (Mark) Rea of Bloomingdale, Illinois and David (Amanda) Farber of Marion, Iowa; his eleven grandchildren: Grace (fiancé Eric Hradek), Emily, and Olivia Surma; Colby, Chase, and Hayley Olson; Emma and Taylor Serrata; Kora (Stephen) Rea-Alexander; and Tyler and Bryant Farber. Paul was welcomed in Heaven by his parents Homer and Marjorie Farber.
Memorials in Paul’s memory may be directed to The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum: 303 Jefferson Street, Waterloo, Iowa 50701.
Online condolences may be left for Paul’s family at HenryOlsonFuneral.com
