Staff

Tim Smith, a native of Webb, Iowa, graduated from Spencer High School in 1995, and Iowa State University with a Bachelors Degree in Agricultural Business in 1999. He moved to Storm Lake, Iowa where he started his career in banking. He returned to get his mortuary degree from the Kansas City Kansas Community College of Mortuary Science. Upon the completion of his degree in 2005, Tim and his wife Erin returned to Storm Lake where he has worked at Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home. Tim and Erin purchased Farber and Otteman in 2008 and Tim continues to support the daily operations here in addition to his duties elsewhere. They are proud parents of four children, Bennett (2004), Avery (2006), Eden (2010), and Emerson (2012).

Tim is involved in the Hy-Noon Kiwanis, serving on the planning committee for the Kiwanis Basketball Jamboree. He has also been involved with the Storm Lake Jaycees, ISU Extension Council and Storm Lake Chamber of Commerce. He enjoys coaching his children in their sporting activities, playing basketball, and tuning in to Cyclone sporting events, Cubs and Vikings games.

Erin Smith was born and raised in the Nemaha and Storm Lake areas. She graduated from Storm Lake St. Mary's in 1995, received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Coe College in Cedar Rapids in 1999, and a Master's of Science Degree in Nursing- becoming a Nurse Practitioner in 2021.

Erin's responsibilities at the funeral home include bookkeeping and reserve office help. She also carries a life insurance license to assist with pre-need contracts, which enables patrons to secure their funeral expenses at a locked rate. Other interests include singing worship team at Summit Evangelical Free Church in Alta, past Sac City Chamber Main Street board member, Vice-President of the St. Mary's Athletic Boosters, and supporting their four children and coaching a majority of their sports activities.

Joyce works part-time for Farber & Otteman assisting with services and visitations. She also keeps the grounds as well as the inside of our Odebolt location looking nice. She is a life-long resident of the Odebolt area as well as a graduate of the Odebolt-Arthur Community School system, as are her three adult children: Jeana (Boyd) and husband Chris of Waukee, Iowa, Justin and his wife Amy of Overland Park, Kansas, and Jory and his wife Jesica of Sioux City, Iowa. Joyce has five grandchildren: Carter, Haley, Austin, Hunter, and Brooklyne, and two stepgrandchildren Deangelo and Edwin. 

Joyce retired from the Odebolt-Arthur School in the Food Service Department after 30+ years. She is a member of St. Martin's Catholic Church. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, traveling, gardening, working in her yard and flowerbeds, walking and visiting family.

Amanda has been with Farber & Otteman since the fall of 2013 when she started assisting with services and visitations. Since then, she has become a Licensed Funeral Director, obtaining her Mortuary Science Degree through DMACC. She is a life-long resident of Sac City where she lives with her husband, Chad. They have five daughters: Macy (Tristin), Mia (Garrett), Ella, Sophie, and Lilah, along with two grandchildren.

Amanda enjoys being involved in the community and is a past school board member, coached club volleyball when her girls were growing up, is a Sac City Chamber committee member, is a member of the Sac City Ambassadors, and is a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sac City. 

She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, being outdoors, listening to music, and cheering on both Iowa and Iowa State and attending their games.

Brian works part-time for Farber & Otteman assisting with services, visitations, and occasionally helps in the office. He is a life-long resident of Early, where he farms and owns a farm drainage and excavating business. Brian is very active in the community serving as a city council member as well as for the volunteer fire department/EMS. He and his wife Kari have four children: Ben and Nora Pickhinke of Early, J.R. Thompson and wife Samantha of Newell, and Olivia Lansink and husband Ben of Galva, along with five grandchildren: Emersyn, Remmi, Layne, Emmet, and Rowan. Brian graduated from Schaller-Crestland High School in 1992 and is currently enrolled at DMACC working towards his Funeral Director license.