VAUGHN ABBOTT FARRENS was a lifelong resident of Tekamah, Nebraska. He was born on May 27, 1932, in a farmhouse 6 miles north and 2 miles east of Tekamah to Henry Millard and Carol Maxine (Abbott) Farrens.  He passed away on Thursday, December 3, 2009, at the Memorial Community Hospital in Blair, Nebraska, at the age of 77 years.

Vaughn attended country school and graduated from Tekamah High School in 1949.  He attended Wayne State College and was a student until he was drafted to serve in the Korean War. He served in Alaska and received an honorable discharge in 1955.

Vaughn married Mary Lou Barton on February 23, 1957, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Tekamah. Vaughn and Mary Lou had 5 children and 9 grandchildren.

He worked as a farmer full time and held part time jobs until a farming accident maimed his right hand. While recovering from that accident, he worked as a school bus driver and then took a job with the United States Postal Service; a job he retired from.  He was a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers and a member of the American Legion.

A lifelong member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, he was confirmed June 15, 1947. He served on the church council, taught Sunday school for a year and often served as a greeter and helped with coffee. If Mary Lou was involved in a church project, Vaughn was always there by her side; running errands and helping in any way he could.

Vaughn also donated blood as often as he could.  He enjoyed knowing that he could give the gift of health and life to others. He earned several pins from the Red Cross for his blood donations.

Vaughn coached baseball and one of his true joys was attending his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events.

Vaughn was a Civil War buff and enjoyed reading, studying, and watching documentaries and other films about the civil war. He had some opportunities to visit civil war sites and enjoyed that immensely. In the Tekamah Cemetery, when you come up the hill, in Section 5, there is a statue of a Civil War Veteran and a World War I Veteran. One of Vaughn’s guns was used as a model for the gun that stands between the two veterans.

Vaughn also enjoyed history and was very enthusiastic when the Lewis and Clark project was happening here in Tekamah.  He was especially proud of his daughter-in-law, Linda Farrens and the role she played in that project.

Vaughn loved science and nature and was always awed and humbled by Mother Nature. It used to drive Mary Lou nuts when Vaughn could not come inside and go to the basement during a tornado warning. He had to stand on the back porch and watch the storm roll in. Vaughn was fascinated with sites like Ash Falls here in Nebraska. If you have not seen that place, go.  And please think of Vaughn while you are there.

Vaughn is survived by his wife, Mary Lou; his children, Henry and his wife, Linda and 2 granddaughters, Mariah and Leia of Tekamah; William and 2 grandsons, Donovan and Devin from Omaha; Luanne and 2 granddaughters, Melinda and Jaclyn Templeton of New Mexico; Raymond and his wife, Kathy and 2 granddaughters, Alyssa and Sarah of Gardner, Kansas; and Amanda and grandson, Alexander of Tekamah; his sister  and brother-in-law, Patricia and Richard Hancock of Herman; as well as nieces, nephew, grandnieces and -nephews.

Although Vaughn spent the last several months of his life in and out of health care facilities, it did not deter his strength.  In fact, it brought his strength out more. Each time he was faced with a new health challenge, he faced it with dignity and a quiet strength that allowed us to have him in our lives for a little longer but perhaps more importantly; taught us about a way we can face life’s difficulties which not only empowers ourselves, but sets an example for others. He would want us to honor him by living out that example in our own lives.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Monday, December 7, 2009, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Tekamah.

BURIAL: Tekamah Cemetery with Military Honors by the American Legion LaFrenz Post No. 15 and VFW Bataan Post No. 3304.

VISITATION: Sunday 1- 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 5 - 7 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah. Visitation Monday will be held at the church onehour prior to the service.

MEMORIALS: Emmanuel Lutheran Church Youth

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Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

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