August 19, 1992 – December 30, 2024
Michaela Caroline Farus, 32, passed away on Monday, December 30, 2024, at MercyOne Hospital in Des Moines, IA, following an extended illness.
Her Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday, January 4, 2025, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 246 S. Clark Street, Forest City, Iowa with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating; the visitation is scheduled for Friday, January 3, 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Schott Funeral Home, 505 North Clark Street, Forest City, Iowa. Visitation will continue from 12:00 until service time at the church on Saturday.
Michaela’s Celebration of Life will be livestreamed on the https://www.immanuelfamily.com/ website.
Schott Funeral Homes in Forest City has been entrusted to care for Kayla and her family.
Michaela was born on August 19, 1992, to John and Mary Ann Farus, joining her family as the younger sister of Jennifer and Joe. She grew up in Forest City, where she graduated from Forest City High School.
Michaela’s life was a complex journey marked by challenges. In September 2012, during her studies at Hawkeye Community College, her health began to fail. After months of uncertainty, she was diagnosed with C3 Glomerulonephritis, a rare kidney disease. This diagnosis shaped much of her adult life, and while she showed remarkable resilience, she often struggled to prioritize her own well-being. Michaela endured kidney failure, heart failure, and numerous hospital stays, facing these challenges with both determination and frustration.
Her relationships with family and friends were deeply significant. She loved fiercely and could be fiercely protective. Michaela’s passion for children, especially her nieces and nephews, brought her moments of true joy. Though her illness prevented her from having children of her own, she found ways to celebrate and support the children in her life.
Michaela’s life in North Iowa was marked by health struggles and personal challenges, but she faced them with a blend of grit and vulnerability. Her move to Des Moines in her final year allowed her to access the care she needed. This past Christmas was a bittersweet celebration for Michaela and her family, knowing this was her last Holiday, but leaving them with cherished memories.
Michaela is survived by her parents, John and Mary Ann Farus; her sister, Jennifer (Andy) Eastvold; her brother, Joseph (Bethanie) Farus; her nieces and nephews, Olivia and Elaina Eastvold and Oliver, Cecilia, and Henry Farus, all of Forest City; her sister, Suzanne Childs of Minneapolis; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, William and Caroline Hines; her paternal grandparents, Sidney and Fay Farus; and her beloved cousin, Rebecca Casebolt Johnson.
Michaela’s family remembers her as a person of complexity and strength, whose life was a mixture of joy and struggle. They invite all who knew her to celebrate her memory, acknowledging the full breadth of her life and the love she shared in her own way.
Cards and memorials can be sent to John and Mary Ann Farus, 102 Country Club Road, Forest City, IA 50436.
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