Farber, Ronald Earl

Ronald Earl Farber, 76, of Iowa City, died Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, after a long illness.

Ron was born Aug. 1, 1936, in Davenport, to Herman and Esther (Morris) Farber. He graduated from Davenport High School in 1954 and studied marketing/advertising at the University of Iowa. He married Donna Jean Levene on Feb. 21, 1966, in Chicago.

A store manager for Eagle Food Centers for 30 years, Ron operated stores in Iowa City, Coralville, Skokie (Ill.) and Chicago. He was a die-hard Hawkeye fan and a dedicated community leader, serving as president and board member of both the Iowa City/Coralville Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Iowa City Public Library Board of Directors. He was instrumental in the merger of the Iowa City and Coralville chambers of commerce, serving as president in Coralville and as a board member in Iowa City.

Ron also had been president of Agudas Achim Congregation, the University of Iowa Hillel Student Center advisory board and the Sunrise Optimist Club. He arranged for holiday bell ringers as a Salvation Army Iowa City Corps advisory board member.

Ron was preceded in death by Donna, his wife of 46 years, and their daughter, Rebecca (Farber) Ackerman.

He is survived by his daughter, Beth Farber of Columbia, Mo.; his son and daughter-in-law, David and Emily Farber of Iowa City, and their children, Benjamin, Abraham, Elsa and Isaac; son-in-law, Anthony (Cindy) Ackerman of Marion, and grandson, Tyler Ackerman; brother and sister-in-law, Hank and Meg Farber of Davenport; niece, Michelle (Gary) Silvera of Davenport, and their daughter, Lily; brother- and sister-in-law, David and Lore Levene of Mount Prospect, Ill.; nephew, Erik (Julie) Levene, and their children, Sarah, Jack and James; and niece, Dana (Jamie Nortz) Levene. Ron had many loving cousins as well.

Graveside services will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, at Agudas Achim Cemetery, off Linder Road in Iowa City, with Rabbi Jeff Portman officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, in the Kirkwood Room, 515 Kirkwood Ave. (adjacent to Lensing Funeral Service) in Iowa City.

The Farber family would like to thank the staff at Iowa City Rehab and Health Care Center and Emerson Point for their dedicated care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials contributions may be sent to Agudas Achim Congregation, 602 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240; The Salvation Army Iowa City Corps, 1116 E. Gilbert Ct., Iowa City, IA 52240; or a deserving organization of your choice.

Please direct condolences to www.lensingfuneral.com.

Published Oct. 1, 2012 in The Gazette