Jack DeCalb Farmer

Jack DeCalb Farmer of Steelville, Missouri passed away Sunday, October 27, 2019 in Union at the age of 87 years, 7 months and 18 days. Jack was born March 9, 1932 in Ft. Smith, AR to Willis and Mary Shelby Farmer. On November 1, 1952 at Holy Cross Church in Cuba, MO, he was united in marriage to Sara Goodman and to this union two sons and two daughters were born.

Jack grew up in Crawford County, graduating from Steelville High School in 1949. He served his nation honorably in the U.S. Army from 1949 to 1970, retiring after twenty-two years as a 1st Sgt.  Jack was stationed in Korea at two different times and in Viet Nam. He was also stationed in Berlin while The Wall was being built. He received an Army Commendation Medal with the 1st and 2nd Oak Leaf Clusters and a Purple Heart while serving in the Korean Conflict. After retirement and returning back to Steelville, he worked at Perkins Lumber for a number of years.

He was a member of the Steelville VFW #6479 and was the Quarter Master at one time, served as a Steelville City Councilman and was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church for many years serving faithfully. Jack loved to go white bass fishing in Oklahoma, follow the Mizzou basketball games and traveling with Sara. They enjoyed traveling to all fifty states, other countries including the two smallest, The Vatican and Monaco. Not only did he and Sara volunteer for their church, they also volunteered for the local Food Pantry.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Neal Farmer; one sister, Reita (Carroll) Price; and one brother-in-law, Charles Hendricks.

Jack will be sadly missed by his wife of almost sixty-seven years, Sara Farmer of Steelville, MO; one son, Mark (Alynn) Farmer of Poquoson, VA; two daughters, Mary (Jerry) Whitley of St. Louis, MO and Lynn (Bill) Holmes of Washington, MO; daughter-in-law, Cynthia Farmer of Murfreesboro, TN; sister, Aileen Hendricks of Westchester, OH; brother-in-law, Richard (Lois) Goodman of St. Louis, MO; and sister-in-law, Patricia Goodman of Steelville, MO; six grandchildren, Monica Braun, Matt (Amanda) Holmes, Andrew Holmes, Dan (Emily) Farmer, Jonathan Farmer and Nicholas Farmer; one great-grandson, Henry Farmer; other relatives; and many friends.

The Family received friends from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 31, 2019 at the St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Steelville, MO.

A Funeral Mass was held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 31, 2019 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Steelville, MO with Father Dan Lueckenotte officiating. Scripture readings were by Jerry Whitley. Serving at the altar were Jake and Joe Howdeshell. Special music of "Go Rest High" and "How Great Thou Art" was sung and played by Rev. Jerry Beers. Karin West was the organist. Memories were shared by Larry Howdeshell, Jr.

Committal prayer and interment with full military honors by the U.S. Army were held at 2:00 p.m. at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, MO.

Honored to be casket bearers were Matthew Holmes, Andrew Holmes, Ted Hendricks, Randy Hendricks, Jake Howdeshell and Joe Howdeshell.

The Family was served by the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jack DeCalb Farmer, please visit our floral store.