(Veteran) (Photo)

Elwin D. Farwell, 98

Elwin D. Farwell, Luther College's sixth president, died at home in Decorah, Iowa, on May 5, 2017, at age 98. Hailed as a leader in higher education, Farwell dedicated his life to serving Luther College and higher education in Iowa and the nation.

Born May 1, 1919, in Quincy, Mich., Farwell graduated from Roosevelt High School in Coldwater. He married Helen Hill in 1942.

Farwell graduated from Michigan State University in 1943. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II and was discharged in 1946 with the rank of captain. He earned a master of science degree from Michigan State in 1947; a doctorate in education from the University of California-Berkeley in 1959; and a bachelor of divinity degree from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in 1959.

From 1947 to 1955, Farwell served on the faculty at Michigan State, during which time he helped establish an agricultural college in Colombia.

After ordination in 1959, he became pastor at Salem Lutheran Church in Andrew, Iowa, for two years, but eventually found his calling in Lutheran higher education. He was academic dean at California Lutheran College prior to becoming president of Luther College in 1963, in which capacity he served for the next 18 years.

After retiring from Luther in 1981, Farwell served for 15 months as interim president of Dana College in Blair, Neb. He was also a member of the Dana College Board of Regents.

In addition to holding honorary degrees from four colleges and universities, he received the King Olav V of Norway Award, Knight First Class Order of St. Olav, and the King of Sweden Award, Knight First Class Order of North Star. He also served as an interim bishop for ELCA synods in Omaha and Denver.

Farwell is survived by his wife, Helen (Hill); son, Don Lucian Farwell, California; daughter, Helen Kay Kennedy (David Tardy), Michigan; son, James Lyman Farwell (Elizabeth Sadhu), Oregon; daughter, Judith Anne (Brian) Bumpus, New Jersey; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, Iowa.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~