Dr. John Byer Farnham

Farnham, Dr. John Byer
Dr. John B. Farnham, 94, died after a short illness, surrounded by loved ones, on June 11, 2015. He was born to John A. Farnham and Bertha Farnham in Kamrar, Iowa on 12/14/1920. He attended Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa, lettering in track, basketball and football. He was a member of ATO fraternity, and a Student body president of Simpson. After graduating from College in the middle of WWll, he joined the Marine Corps, went on to receive an officer's commission and as a member of the 8th Anti-Aircraft Battalion, participated in the invasion of Okinawa in 1945. After his military tour ended, he returned to Iowa, and then met and married Dorothy Jeanne Kracht, his wife for 48 years. He enrolled in the Still Osteopathic College in Des Moines, and graduated from there in 1950. He practiced Family Medicine in rural Iowa for 10 years, making house calls and delivering babies in the middle of the night, and often being paid in eggs or beef. In Battle Creek Iowa, he helped establish the town's hospital. He later returned to Des Moines to pursue a radiology specialty. After completing his residency, he relocated to Phoenix in 1963, settling in the Arcadia area, which allowed him to pursue his love of horses, with a riding ring and stable. He began a private radiology practice, and later was involved with the building of Mesa General Hospital and the radiology department there. He was a dedicated, skillful and compassionate physician who practiced in Phoenix until his retirement in 1998. He was an enthusiastic sports fan, following the Sun Devils, the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks. He loved mentoring young physicians, travelling the globe, and made many medical missionary trips to Africa and Mexico after his retirement. After Dorothy's death, he married Jean McGill in 1996, who preceded him in death earlier in 2015. He was active initially in the Valley Presbyterian Church and later in the Paradise Valley Methodist Church. He was a 22 year member of the Board of Trustees of Simpson College, and a past President of the AOMA. Surviving relatives include: brother Paul Farnham; son Dr. John Craig Farnham (Donna); daughter Jeanne Farnham (Jim Brown); grandchildren Loren Christopher and Lindsay Farnham; and great -grandchildren Eli, Genevieve, and Alison. Also, nephews Dean Farnham, Doug Farnham, and Dale Farnham; niece Judy Pao; and countless friends. Memorial Service at the Gathering Place at The Terraces, 7550 N. 16th St., Phoenix, AZ 85020 at 1:00PM on Saturday, June 27,2015. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Hospice of the Valley at hov.org or the Dorothy Farnham Scholarship Fund at Simpson College at simpson.edu. Please visit www.hansenmortuary.com for condolences.