Leo Joseph Joe Fahn
September 5, 1934 — July 27, 2007
Leo Joseph (Joe) Fahn was born on September 5, 1934 to Leo and Hilda (Leuschen) Fahn in rural Harlan. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary�s of the Assumption Catholic Church in Panama, Iowa. He received his education from St. Mary�s Catholic School in Panama, graduating in 1952, and continued on to Iowa State University for one year. He then had the opportunity to farm and continued to do so until 2006.
On June 6, 1955, Joe married Marilyn Mickels at St. Mary�s in Panama. Two sons were born to this union: Jay and Jamie. He was a loving husband to Marilyn and a devoted dad to his sons. They were blessed to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in 2005.
Joe became a member of the Iowa Pork Producers and remained active until 2005. Locally, he served as a county and district chairman. On the state level, he served on many committees as well as Treasurer, Vice President, and finally as President in 1983. He enjoyed promoting Iowa pork and all the lifelong friends he made.
He served on the Livestock and Meat Board based in Chicago from 1988 to 1995. He was a member of the Iowa Banking Board for twelve years.
He served as President of St. Mary�s Parish Council, held offices in the Panama Community Club, was a Scout Leader, coached Little League baseball, was a 4-H leader, and FFA Lifetime Alumni. He was named Farmer of the Year by the Panama Community Club in 1973 and by the FFA in 1990. In 1975 he was honored as Shelby County Pork Producer of the Year.
Forty years ago when the Catholic Church allowed lay people to be lectors, Joe was one of the first to serve at St. Mary�s in Panama. He was an altar server until 1991 when Joe and Marilyn moved to Harlan. They were members of St. Michael�s Parish where Joe also served as a lector and usher.
He enjoyed family gatherings, participating in his sons� farming operations and in later years traveling with Marilyn during the winter. He was especially proud of his grandchildren�s various accomplishments.
Joe died on Friday, July 27, 2007, in his sleep at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, having attained the age of seventy-two years. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law Nick Gubbels.
Joe is survived by his wife of fifty-two years, Marilyn Fahn of Harlan, Iowa; his sons: Jay Fahn and his wife Linda of Harlan, Iowa, and Jamie Fahn and his wife Mary of Portsmouth, Iowa; grandchildren Megan and Ryan Fahn of Portsmouth, Iowa, Bonnie and her husband Brian Reinig of Omaha, Nebraska, and Amy Jo Jacobsen of Indianola, Iowa; his sisters: Marge Gubbels of Harlan, Iowa, Donna and her husband Kenny Escher of Harlan, Iowa, Judy and her husband Chuck Reynolds of Omaha, Nebraska, Mary Rose and her husband Hollis Bledsoe of Avoca, Iowa; his brothers: Charlie Fahn and his wife Linda of Canton, Georgia, and Bill Fahn and his wife Joan of Panama, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other family members, and many friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, July 30, 2007, with celebrant Rev. Bob Hoefler and Concelebrant Rev. Leonard Kenkel conducting the 10:30 AM service at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Ken Mickels, Leo Kloewer, Chuck Bjustrom, Mike Telford, Rich Dagner, Melvin Morfeld, Jim Ledgers, and Jim Meyer. Serving as casket bearers were Ryan Fahn, Brian Reinig, Dean Gubbels, Bill Fahn, Charlie Fahn, and Chris Rodenborn. Interment was held at St. Mary�s Cemetery in Panama, Iowa.
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On June 6, 1955, Joe married Marilyn Mickels at St. Mary�s in Panama. Two sons were born to this union: Jay and Jamie. He was a loving husband to Marilyn and a devoted dad to his sons. They were blessed to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in 2005.
Joe became a member of the Iowa Pork Producers and remained active until 2005. Locally, he served as a county and district chairman. On the state level, he served on many committees as well as Treasurer, Vice President, and finally as President in 1983. He enjoyed promoting Iowa pork and all the lifelong friends he made.
He served on the Livestock and Meat Board based in Chicago from 1988 to 1995. He was a member of the Iowa Banking Board for twelve years.
He served as President of St. Mary�s Parish Council, held offices in the Panama Community Club, was a Scout Leader, coached Little League baseball, was a 4-H leader, and FFA Lifetime Alumni. He was named Farmer of the Year by the Panama Community Club in 1973 and by the FFA in 1990. In 1975 he was honored as Shelby County Pork Producer of the Year.
Forty years ago when the Catholic Church allowed lay people to be lectors, Joe was one of the first to serve at St. Mary�s in Panama. He was an altar server until 1991 when Joe and Marilyn moved to Harlan. They were members of St. Michael�s Parish where Joe also served as a lector and usher.
He enjoyed family gatherings, participating in his sons� farming operations and in later years traveling with Marilyn during the winter. He was especially proud of his grandchildren�s various accomplishments.
Joe died on Friday, July 27, 2007, in his sleep at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, having attained the age of seventy-two years. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law Nick Gubbels.
Joe is survived by his wife of fifty-two years, Marilyn Fahn of Harlan, Iowa; his sons: Jay Fahn and his wife Linda of Harlan, Iowa, and Jamie Fahn and his wife Mary of Portsmouth, Iowa; grandchildren Megan and Ryan Fahn of Portsmouth, Iowa, Bonnie and her husband Brian Reinig of Omaha, Nebraska, and Amy Jo Jacobsen of Indianola, Iowa; his sisters: Marge Gubbels of Harlan, Iowa, Donna and her husband Kenny Escher of Harlan, Iowa, Judy and her husband Chuck Reynolds of Omaha, Nebraska, Mary Rose and her husband Hollis Bledsoe of Avoca, Iowa; his brothers: Charlie Fahn and his wife Linda of Canton, Georgia, and Bill Fahn and his wife Joan of Panama, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other family members, and many friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, July 30, 2007, with celebrant Rev. Bob Hoefler and Concelebrant Rev. Leonard Kenkel conducting the 10:30 AM service at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Ken Mickels, Leo Kloewer, Chuck Bjustrom, Mike Telford, Rich Dagner, Melvin Morfeld, Jim Ledgers, and Jim Meyer. Serving as casket bearers were Ryan Fahn, Brian Reinig, Dean Gubbels, Bill Fahn, Charlie Fahn, and Chris Rodenborn. Interment was held at St. Mary�s Cemetery in Panama, Iowa.
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