Paul H. Farber, 76, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, died on January 31, 2025, at Bickford of Cedar Falls, after enduring Alzheimer’s disease for four years. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 15, at 11 a.m., at Faith United Methodist Church, 107 Fourth 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 of 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 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, from 1999 until 2005, and for Rantoul 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 of four children and grandpa to 11 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 and helped 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 also 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 39 years, Deanna, of Cedar Falls; his four children, Patti (Joe) Surma of Waterloo, Iowa, Tracy (Kirk) Olson of Estherville, Iowa, Amy (Mark) Rea of Bloomingdale, and David (Amanda) Farber of Marion, Iowa; his 11 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.
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