William “Sam” Farner, 70 of 1537 Matterhorn Dr. NE. and Estero, Fla. died Friday Dec. 5, 2008 at the Dennis and Donna Hospice House of Mercy after a short illness. Services at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. Rev. Lanny Tuttle will officiate. Burial at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m. on Monday.
Survivors include his wife Dee, four brothers Steve (LaVonne) of Ames, Cy (Sandra) of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Tom (Jeanne) of Carroll; and two sisters, Sally (John) Norgaard and Sara (Dennis) Anderson all of Carroll. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a nephew, Christopher John Farner.
Sam was born on Dec. 17, 1937 in Carroll, the son of William and Lois Hulsebus Farner. As a teen he started working at Farner-Bocken and graduated from the Carroll High School in 1957. He attended Buena Vista University in Storm Lake.  He started his career as a sales rep. for the General Cigar Co. and later went into partnership in the Farner-Hewett Co. in Charles City. He married Delores “Dee” Jacobs Reckner on Dec. 28, 1967 in Las Vegas, Nev. In 1981 he became president of the Farner-Bocken Cedar Rapids Company, retiring in 2007. Sam continued to serve on the Farner-Bocken Board of Directors.
Sam was a member of and Past President of I.A.T.D., an honorary member of the National I Club Board, Elmcrest Country Club, and the Wildcat Run Country Club in Estero, Fla.
Memorial donations may be given to the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, the Cedar Valley Humane Society or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
A special thanks to Sandie, Terry, Mick and Melissa Slinger for being there at all times,  to the staff at the Hospice House for the loving care given to Sam and to his many friends and family for their cards, flowers and visits.
Please leave a message or tribute to the Farner family on our web page, www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.