Diocese mourns loss of former legislator, director of Catholic Conference

Editor’s note: The following is reprinted with permission from the Catholic Advance of Wichita. Mike Farmer was a friend to the SKR and often worked with its staff on stories concerning the KCC.

WICHITA - When legislators in Topeka saw Michael Farmer, they thought about the Catholic Church. He represented the church in his job and in the way he lived his life. Farmer, a long-time Kansas legislator, and most recently the executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, died Nov. 7, 2007, from acute leukemia.

The Most Rev. Eugene J. Gerber, bishop emeritus of Wichita, worked with Farmer for many years.

“To think of Mike is to think of Jean,” she said. “So much were they one in their marriage and family life. But also, they readily gave themselves in tandem to safeguard and better human life, especially for those who needed a voice to be heard and an advocate to plead their cause.”

Bishop Gerber said that mindset made him “a natural as a Kansas legislator and as executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference where his good works will long endure.”

Kansans for Life issued a press release last week describing Farmer, a former state president of the organization, as a pro-life warrior.

“Mike was an exemplary Christian and pro-life advocate throughout his tenure as a state representative from Wichita and as the executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference,” KFL said. Current KFL State President Alan Hansen described Farmer as “always happy, even-tempered and a wise leader. ”Mike worked hard to gain a consensus in making all decisions and he always showed integrity in all he did. He worked tirelessly to end abortion in our state and advance the dignity of human life.”

Three memorial funds have been set up by the Farmer family in lieu of flowers. To help defray medical expenses incurred from Mike’s illness contributions may be made to the Michael P. Farmer Memorial, Credit Union of America, P. O. Box 47528, Wichita, KS 67201.

Contributions may also be made to two organizations Mike and Jean volunteered for together: A Better Choice, 3007 E. Central, Wichita, KS 67214; and the Center of Hope, 400 N. Emporia St., Wichita, KS 67202.