Submitted by: Janet A. Brandt
Source: Anamosa Eureka, Anamosa, Iowa, 27 September 2016

John Allen Farrington, 67, of Anamosa, formerly of Tuscon, Ariz., died Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. An outdoor gathering will be held by the Wapsipinicon River on Sunday, Sept. 30. Details to be announced later.
John is survived by his children, Mark Farrington and Tara (Farrington) Farris; brothers, Paul, Bobby, David, Larry, Bill, Dale and Hank (Thomas); sisters, Norma Arndt, Nita Dirks, Linda McGovern, Toni Kurth, Judy Howard and Becky Fronzaglio; two grandsons; two granddaughters; one great-grandson; and more than 60 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and four sisters, Patty Zimmerman, Carol Heady, Samara Sams and Iris Mettler.
Born on Aug. 5, 1951, to Walter and Eleanor (Pavin) Farrington, he lived most of his life in Anamosa, Iowa. John was the 16th of 18 children, the seventh son born and the first son to pass away.
He married Karmen Leta Hankemeier on Oct. 15, 1971, at the Lutheran Church in Anamosa. To this union were born Mark and Tara. In 1991 they divorced and John moved to Tuscan, Ariz., for 11 years before moving back to Anamosa.
John had a complicated life but was not a complicated guy. A carpenter at heart, he worked most of his life in construction. He loved the outdoors and going fishing with his friends and family or anyone who would take him.
He was a happy soul that loved to tell a tale and share a drink with a stranger or a friend. And you could always recognize him by his hat. But his long battle with alcoholism would take his life in the end.
He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, and he knew practically everyone in Jones County, Iowa, and Tuscon, Ariz., and was related to the rest.

Source: The Gazette,