Jack Faber, 93, of Brewster, Kansas died on Friday, December 31, 2021,
in Lakewood, Colorado, surrounded by family. He was born October 27,
1928, to Artie (Smith) and John Faber, at his Aunt Ella’s home in
Kearney County, Nebraska and baptized January 25, 1929. He began primary
school at the age of three, scored high on exams, and by the age of 12
he started, but never finished, high school in Colby. Instead, the teen
went to work on the farm and worked for other local ranchers. Known for
some antics, his mother could have probably attested to the need to keep
Jack busy when she shockingly discovered he had wired the outhouse seat
with a battery charger.
On December 9, 1945, 17-year-old Jack eloped with his sweetheart, Mary,
all the way to Goodland. After Mary’s unplanned reveal of their secret
marriage the following day, Jack’s folks were not happy, and Mary’s
folks gave the newlyweds $50. Some of the money went toward a honeymoon
in Denver; Mary spent the remaining bounty on a pretty dress. Jack and
Mary spent many evenings together at local barn dances, where Jack might
also have been found playing the guitar or the fiddle. The neighbors
said it would never last. Jack’s smitten eyes and affectionate smile as
he held Mary’s hand 75 years later would beg to differ.
Jack was a loving husband and father, a skilled farmer, and a sensible
businessman, who devoted his life, above all else, to family. He served
as a role model and a resource for family and community alike for life
and business. He will always be remembered for his strong, steady
presence and compassion for others, selflessness, and integrity. Jack’s
capacity for acceptance and unconditional love cultivated strong
reciprocal love and respect from so many others throughout his life.
Jack and Mary’s home in Brewster was the center for family meals and
holiday gatherings and a safe place for people to just exist. Grandkids
commonly greeted their Grandpa Jack by tickling their fingers across the
top of his crew cut head.
Over their 75 years together, Jack and Mary built a family and a farming
business. During drought times, he would drive truck from Denver to
haul cars to Chicago or work as a custom harvester, even taking his own
crew one year. Jack later stepped away from full-time farming and turned
his focus to his work with the Department of Agriculture and the
Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. Eventually, in the
1970s, Jack attained his GED to formalize his high school education so
he could work for Federal Crop Insurance. After briefly living in Hays
and Manhattan for Jack’s work, the couple returned to Brewster, where
their family eagerly awaited their return. For some time, he also sold
Triumph Seed with his son, John, and won a salesmanship award.
Always community-minded, Jack was a longtime member of Our Savior’s
Lutheran Church in Brewster, the Brewster Lions’ Club, the Elks’ Club,
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, and was a charter member of the
Brewster Senior Center. He sat on the boards of the Farmers’ Co-Op,
Brewster Senior Center, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Farm Management,
and the Mirage and Brewster Schools. In 1966, Jack was recognized with a
Rawlins County Conservation Award. Later, in 2007, he was awarded the
Brewster Community Award. Let us not forget the many years he called
bingo for all the gambling folk, including Mary, in the greater
northwest Kansas region. The community remembers him for his humility,
quiet presence, observant nature, and that canny smile that let everyone
know that he knew. Jack seemed to know everything about everyone for
generations of folks and, in his later years, even kept up to date on
everyone’s lives through his own social media account.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; parents; sister, Dinah
Faber Knight; granddaughter Jennifer Renee Faber; and son-in-law Albert
Holub.
He is survived by his children, Jackie (Darrell) Jorgensen, of Brewster,
KS; Vonita Holub, of Brewster, KS; and John (Renee) Faber, of Brewster,
KS; sister, Kathleen O’Neal; grandchildren David (JimMarie) Jorgensen,
Daniel (Jennifer) Jorgensen, Sarah Jorgensen (Dustin Wessels), Julie
Williams, Matthew (Stacy) Wallsmith, Jessica (James) House, Joshua
(Ronda) Faber, Jeremiah Faber, Jacob Faber; so many great and
great-great grandchildren from whom he adored visits; and many nieces
and nephews.
Memorial service will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 14, 2022, at Our
Savior’s Lutheran Church, Brewster, KS. Burial will be performed later
at the Faber Family Cemetery in rural Rawlins County. Memorials are
suggested to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Brewster Heritage Center, in
care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. Online
condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com