Ernest D. Faber, 97, of Perry passed away Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, at the Eden Acres campus of the Perry Lutheran Homes in Perry, Iowa.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 30 at the First Church of Christ, 310 N.W. Ash Dr., Ankeny. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery in Minburn, Iowa, with full military honors rendered by the Minburn American Legion Post 99 and the Iowa National Guard Honor Guard.
Ernie was born Aug. 30, 1926, in Minburn, Iowa, the son of Harvey and Mary (Reeves) Faber.
He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served with the occupational forces in Japan at the end of World War II from June 14, 1945, until Nov. 8, 1946.
After being discharged from the Army, Ernie finished his studies at the Cincinnati Bible Seminary and was ordained into ministry at the Minburn Church of Christ.
On June 13, 1952, he married Neva Fate in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Ernie and Neva were missionaries in Japan for 45 years on the northern island of Hokkaido. During their ministry, they planted three churches, operated a children’s English language school and developed a church camp. Over the years, they offered their support and encouragement to many young missionary families who arrived in Japan. Ernie loved to drive visitors around to view the beauty of the island of Hokkaido.
Ernie was an avid collector of Japanese stamps, getting up early to line up at the post office on the issue date to get stamps for himself and all of his kids. He enjoyed watching sumo wrestling tournaments, and he followed Japanese baseball on TV, making sure the radio was ready to go in case the game wasn’t yet over when the TV broadcast shut down at 9:30 p.m. He was always ready for a game of horseshoes.
He was an avid reader. He collected a large library of books and even in Japan continually subscribed to magazines and journals to keep himself informed of world, national and local affairs. He was very patriotic and politically involved.
When Ernie and Neva retired from the mission field in 1999, they moved to the Faber family farm just outside of Minburn. Ernie bought a pickup and an old Farmall tractor and had a great time puttering around the place, tinkering with machinery, mowing the grass and keeping up a big garden.
Ernie and Neva became very involved at the Washington Chapel Church of Christ, where Ernie served as an elder.
Ernie also was very active with the Minburn American Legion Post 99, where he served in a variety of positions.
Until COVID-19 shut things down when he turned 92, he faithfully drove into Perry on Monday mornings to offer a Bible study to the “old folk” (as he termed them) at the Rowley Masonic Community (now the Eden Acres campus of the Perry Lutheran Homes). He also made it a point to drive to Des Moines to attend the monthly meetings of local ministers.
For many years, he and Neva were active with the Des Moines chapter of the Japan American Society, and Ernie served as treasurer.
Ernie embraced technology. He was quite comfortable with computers and things like social media and until a year ago regularly preached by Skype for a church in Japan.
Survivors include his wife, Neva Faber; three of his children, Linda Svoboda, Charles (Patricia) Faber and Allan (Debbie) Faber; his daughter-in-law, Pam Faber; 13 grandchildren, Kevin (Elizabeth) Worcester, Jason Worcester, Melissa (Matthew) Sleasman, Ryan (Alison) Faber, Mary (Roy) Senters, Margaret Walters, Phyllis (Chris) Burns, Jared Faber, Josiah (Linda) Faber, Nathan (Christy) Faber, Leah (Vincent) Forgo, Aaron Faber and Lydia Faber; two sisters, Lulu Jean Zuercher and Georgene (Larry) Tegeler; and many great grandchildren; nieces; and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Mary Faber; his son, Donald; his son-in-law, Jerry Svoboda; his brothers and sisters, Lavina Thurwanger, Joseph Faber, Matthew “Dale” Faber and Mary Ellen Thurwanger; and two great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial contributions to the Central Iowa Bible Camp, 18578 335th Lane, Earlham, IA 50072.
Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home-Perry Chapel is in care of arrangements.
