Henry E. "Duke" Farber

Henry E. “Duke” Farber, 75, of Geneseo, passed away Sunday, February 12, 2017 at his home surrounded by his family and friends after a long battle with ALS.  A Funeral Mass celebrating his life will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, February 18th at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Geneseo.  Father Michael Pakula will celebrate.  Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Geneseo, where Military Honors will be accorded by Don Cherry VFW Post.  Visitation will be from 4-7 PM on Friday at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory, Geneseo.  Memorials may be made to the Duke Farber Memorial Fund.

Duke was born on July 22, 1941 in Geneseo, IL, the son of Leonard and Ann (Vandersnick) Farber.  He graduated from Geneseo High School in 1959.  He was united in marriage to Lois K. Temple on October 24, 1964 in Geneseo.  He had been a mechanic for Kittrell Chevy & Olds and J.F. Edwards.  Duke drove truck for Richard Hulslander, Rollie Nelson, Davenport Pack and Dale Kincaid.  In 1971 he became an Owner/Operator and leased his truck to Gangloff and Downham, Illini Beef, and Rowley Interstate.  The last 25 years to Anderson Transportation out of Forreston, IL.  In 2002 he was named Owner/Operator of the year for Anderson Transportation.  Duke drove 4,000,000 miles over the span of his career and 55 years without a preventable accident and retired in 2015.

Duke was a member of St. Malachy Catholic Church, the Antique Engine and Tractor Association, and the Moose Lodge.  In his youth he had belonged to the Kourtesy Kustom Ltd. and the Geneseo Gear Grinders.  He enjoyed drag racing and was the 1961 class eliminator at the World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova, IL.  He also raced at Phenix City, AL and Dallas, GA.  Duke also loved stock car racing and had the opportunity to have his picture taken with Dale Earnhardt, Sr.  He collected antique tractors, equipment and garden tractors.  He enjoyed gardening and fishing whenever he got the chance.

He is survived by his wife Lois; and several nieces and nephews including, Russell Farber, Lenny Farber, Debbie Farber Neil, Connie Farber Barnhorst, Jason Snyder, Andy Snyder, and Alysa Snyder; and special friend Dru Clementz.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Royce.

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