Earl Duane Farlinger, 79, of St. Ansgar, Iowa, died suddenly on Saturday, May 14, 2016, at Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage.

Earl was born August 12, 1936 in Albert Lea, Minnesota to Alta Marie (Dilling) and John Henry Earl Farlinger. He graduated from Lyle High School in 1954 and started farming with his parents. On March 4, 1956, he married Marlene Inez Nasby at Six Mile Grove Lutheran Church outside of Lyle. Earl and Marlene lived and worked on their farm, raising four sons. Earl quit farming in 1986 and then served as a rural postal carrier for over 20 years. In 2013, they sold the farm and moved into their new home in St. Ansgar, Iowa. Earl served on the Board of Directors for the Toeterville Co-op Elevator and for Farmers Mutual Insurance (Osage). He was currently serving on the board of Woodbury Cemetery and on the call committee at Our Saviors. Throughout his entire life, Earl was very active in the church, holding a variety of positions. He enjoyed collecting International Harvester toy tractors, playing pool with his friends, traveling, and spending time with his grandkids and great-grandkids.

Earl is survived by his wife Marlene of St. Ansgar, Iowa; four sons, Craig (Pat) Farlinger of West Liberty, Iowa, Carl (Lisa) Farlinger of Mesa, Arizona, Curt (Lori) Farlinger of Grant, Alabama, and Clint (Amy) Farlinger of Cresco, Iowa; eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Alta Farlinger and grandson, Lucas Farlinger.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2016, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Lyle, Minnesota. Calling hours will be held at Our Saviors on Friday, May 20, 2016, from 4-7 p.m. and continue on Saturday, May 21, 2016, for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Woodbury Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be grandchildren Beth Neubauer, John Farlinger, Caleb Farlinger, Marisa Farlinger, Melissa Miller, Katie Jackson, Amy Gonzalez and Mark Farlinger. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Our Saviors Lutheran Church or Woodbury Cemetery. Worlein Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.