Farber & Otteman Funeral Home

About Us

A funeral is a celebration of your life—a commemoration of what is uniquely you. We can help you express your own ideas about this personal remembrance. A personalized service creates a more meaningful memorial for your loved ones. Planning in advance can help you make a more personal statement, and lift the burden of making decisions from your family during a time of emotional stress.

At Farber & Otteman Funeral Home, our caring, compassionate staff have the experience and expertise you want, to assist you in carrying out your wishes.

Nathan A. Jensen, Owner and Funeral Director

Nathan Jensen, a Galva native, graduated from Waldorf College in Forest City prior to attending Buena Vista University in Storm Lake. He is a graduate of John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science in Nashville. His wife, Nancy, assists in the funeral home operation. The Jensens are proud parents of a daughter, Elli, born June of 2003 and a son, Braxton, born in August of 2007.

Nathan is a member of the Storm Lake Hy-Noon Kiwanis, Habitat for Humanity Board, Storm Lake Chamber of Commerce, Ducks Unlimited and B.V. County Pheasants Forever. He had also served on the Parade of Flags Board and has assisted with other organizations in the area: Relay for Life, Storm Lake Basketball Jamboree and Lake Preservation. In 2007, Nathan was co-chair of the Buena Vista University Capital Campaign. He is a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Storm Lake.

Ronald J. "Ron" Nelson, Funeral Director

Ron graduated from Central Webster High School in Burnside, Iowa and then attended Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. From there he went on to graduate from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since coming to Sac City and Farber & Otteman in 1973, Ron has lived in the funeral home in Sac City. He shares the space with his cat, Zoey. Ron belongs to the Sac City Chamber of Commerce and the Sac City Ambassadors Club, sits on the Sac City Arts Council Board, as well as the Sac City Museum Board and is a member of the Sac County Historical Society. Ron helped organize the Loring Hospice and Bereavement Support Group and is currently a board member for that organization.

Roderick G. "Rod" Sorensen, Funeral Director

Rod graduated from high school in Flandreau, South Dakota, then attended South Dakota State University in Brookings before graduating from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, Illinois. He served in the Army from 1968-1972, spending a year in Viet Nam. He worked for W. Harry Christy Funeral Home in Sioux City from 1971-1978 before coming to Sac City to join the staff at Farber & Otteman. He and his wife Karen live in Sac City, where Karen is a beautician at Wanda's on 5th and also at Oak Terrace Estates. Rod is a member of the Sac City Chamber of Commerce and Sac City Ambassadors Club, the Loring Trust for Loring Hospital and is an Elder and Deacon for the Sac City Presbyterian Church. He is a past member of the Loring Hospital Board of Governors and a former District Governor of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association.

Alan D. Kruthoff, Funeral Director

Alan is a graduate of Lake View-Auburn High School, which is where his wife Barbara is now the superintendent of schools. He received his degree in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota in 1963, and has been in funeral service for 40 years. Alan lives in Lake View and is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church there. He and Barbara have four children: Bret and wife Paula of Charles City, Iowa; Jodi and husband Roger Pieken of Lake View; Shelly and husband Jade Pospeshil of Houston, Texas; and Nick Berry of Ames, Iowa. Alan says he has "six grandchildren and more on the way!"

Marilyn Dettmann, Support Staff

Marilyn works part time at Farber & Otteman making memorial folders and memorial books, which she says is a "nice fit" with the rest of her life. Marilyn did office work and computer entry for Nobles in Sac City until they closed, and then for Simplot Soilbuilders in Sac City. She married Rick Dettmann in 1998. Rick owns and operates Dettman Trucking, and Marilyn does the bookkeeping for that entity. Marilyn is a graduate of Lytton High School and is currently a member of Emanuel-St. John Lutheran Church of Lytton, where she serves on the church council and on the worship and music committee. In her spare time, she loves to work in her flower gardens. Marilyn has two daughters, Shelley and her husband Don Rehm live at Sac City, while Shannon and her husband Fred Kraft reside in New Boston, Missouri. Her grandsons are Derrick, Casey and Beau.

Ann Onnen, Marketing Director

Ann (Hemer) Onnen grew up on her family’s farm near Arthur and is a graduate of Odebolt-Arthur High School. With over 20 years of experience in the marketing field, Ann brings wonderful expertise and creativity to Farber & Otteman’s marketing and personalization programs. Among her many duties are writing and producing the corporate newsletters and marketing pieces.

Ann and her husband Bernie live on an acreage near Schaller. Bernie owns and operates his own trucking company, Country Truck Line, Inc. Ann enjoys freelance creative work and in her spare time loves to garden. Their children are Corey and wife Megan Peterson of Alta; Cole Peterson of Schaller; Cassady and Luke Bartlett of Bowling Green, Kentucky; Shawn and Roger Fredrick of Des Moines; Corey Onnen and Gayle Onnen of Des Moines. They also have four grandchildren, Jacob, Jaden and Carlie Fredrick and Shea Ann Peterson.