Rev. Daniel H. Farley

1957 - 2011

The Rev. Daniel H. Farley, 54, of the Town of Buena Vista, passed away suddenly on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire.

Father Farley was born in Chippewa Falls, on Sept. 18, 1957, the son of Eugene and Elvera (Lemke) Farley. Father Dan attended St. Charles grade school and graduated from McDonell High School in 1976. He then graduated from UW-Eau Claire receiving his bachelor's degree in religious studies. After graduation, he began a 17-year journey toward the priesthood. In 1984 he entered the Salesian Society, which is a religious order within the Catholic church that specializes in outreach ministry to inner-city youth. He was assigned to Los Angeles area, serving as a prison chaplain, high school religion teacher and a gang intervention specialist. In 1992, he left Southern Calif. and returned to the La Crosse Diocese, accepting a position of pastoral minister at St. Therese Parish in Rothschild. Following a year at St. Therese, Bishop John Paul accepted his application and sent him to the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, to continue his priesthood studies. He was ordained on June 27, 1998.

Father Farley's first assignment was as Parochial Administrator of St. Joseph Parish at Altdorf and chaplain and religion instructor at Assumption High School in Wisconsin Rapids. In 1999 he was appointed as associate pastor of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Rothschild and St. Agnes Parish in Weston; he also served as chaplain of young adult ministry for the Diocese of La Crosse. On June 8, 2000, Father Farley was appointed pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Southeastern Portage County, where he served until his death.

In addition to his parish duties, Father served as a chaplain with the U.S. Army having served in Iraq from 2004-2005 and again in Afghanistan from 2008 returning in 2009 to Walter Reed Hospital where he was diagnosed with ALS. He had attained the rank of Major. Father Dan was the founder of Retrouvaille in the La Crosse Diocese and was a frequent guest speaker on the "Inner Life" on Relevant Radio. Father Dan is survived by his parents, Eugene and Elvera Farley, Chippewa Falls; his sister: Sharon (Jeff) Martin, Eau Claire and his brothers: Jeff (Terri) Farley, Sturgeon Bay and Mark (Kathy) Farley, Eau Claire; Seven nieces and nephews; and several great nieces and nephews.

Reception of the body by The Rev. Paul Lippert will take place Wednesday at 2 p.m., Dec. 21, at St. Maximilian Kolbe with visitation to follow until 8 p.m. A Rosary Service will take place at 5:30 p.m. with Deacon James Trzinski presiding. A Vigil Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. with the Very Rev. Tom Lindner presiding and Father Lippert preaching. Visitation will continue on Thursday morning from 9 a.m. until the time of Mass.

The Funeral Mass, expressing the Catholic faith and hope in the promised glory of the Lord's Resurrection, will be on Thursday at 11 a.m., Dec. 22, at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church, between Plover and Waupaca with the Most Rev. William Patrick Callahan, bishop of La Crosse, presiding; The Rev. Al Jakubowski will preach the homily. A committal service with military rites will be on Friday at 11 a.m. Dec. 23, at Hope Cemetery in Chippewa Falls with The Rev. William Felix presiding. In lieu of flowers, the family requests all memorials to be given to St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish. Holly Funeral Home in Waupaca is assisting the Family with arrangements.