Charlie Fairall

Charles Franklin Fairall, 74, prominent Marshalltown area trial attorney, died Friday, May 25th, in the peace of his home with his loving family at his side. His final journey was comforted by the staff of Iowa Hospice.Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 1st, at St. Marys Catholic Church in Marshalltown with Fr. Jim Miller officiating. He will be laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 8:30 a.m. until the service time at the church. Born on October 15, 1937, in Des Moines, he was one of two children born to Loyal and Helen (Kelley) Fairall. He graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1955. Following high school, Charles moved to Iowa City, where he attended the University of Iowa. He received his undergraduate degree and then his JD (with distinction) at Iowa. While attending law school, Charles served on the Iowa Law Review and taught business law at the University of Iowa business school. He was also awarded and acknowledged as Distinguished Military Student and Distinguished Military Graduate by the Board of Editors of the Iowa Law Review.Following graduation from law school, Charles fulfilled his commitment to the United States Army where he served in the JAG Corps and attained the rank of Captain. He received the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service in 1965.Charles enjoyed a long and successful career in law. While in the U.S. Army, he received much national media coverage as a Chief of Military Justice and Chief Prosecutor, winning all of his cases. Following his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army in 1965, he returned to Marshalltown and joined his father Loyals law practice, which was then called Fairall & Fairall. Later it become the well-regarded firm of Fairall, Fairall, Kaplan, Hoglan, Condon & Klaessy. In addition to his law practice, Charles also invested in a number of local and regional businesses, including F & H Property Corp., H & F Distributing, Ft. Dodge Distributing and the Marshalltown Redemption Center.Charles was a passionate supporter of the Marshalltown community and was a member of the Rotary Club, the Elks Club, American Legion Post #46 (where he served on the executive board and as Judge Advocate), the Knights of Columbus (where he served as Grand Knight, a board member and trustee), and the Masonic Blue Lodge. Additionally, he was a member of the Marshall County and American Bar Association, the Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center board and the Marshalltown Community College Foundation board. He also established the Loyal and Helen Fairall Scholarship Fund, which to-date has awarded a number of full scholarships to local area students attending Marshalltown Community College. Charles was supportive of his alma mater and served on the Presidents Club at the University of Iowa. He also was a member of the Kinnick Society at the University of Iowa.Charles is survived by his children: Kelley (Don) Fifer of Clive, Megan Fairall (Curt Struck) of Ames, Deidre Fairall of Lenexa, KS, Charles Fairall, Jr. of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Chris (Jackie) Phelps of Ft. Worth, TX, Cameron Fairall of New York City, and Kendra (Kent) Monk of LeGrand, as well as 14 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and his sister, Patricia Fairall of Marshalltown.Charles had four great loves in his life: golf, the Iowa Hawkeyes, his friends and, most of all, his family. Charles touched many, many lives in Marshalltown and was influential in all aspects of his life. He will be greatly missed by all those who loved him.In death, he will rejoin his parents, Loyal and Helen. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Charlie and his family. Memorials may be directed to the Marshalltown Community College, Marshalltown American Legion, or Iowa Hospice. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.