Degree: Fourth
Member since: 2010
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Supporting our priests and fostering vocations to the religious life is second nature to Tom Farley.
A long-time resident of Minnesota, this Iowa transplant calls West Des Moines home. He and his wife Denise are members of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, and Tom is an active member of our council. Together they have a son named David, who is married and lives in Kansas City.
Tom graduated from St. Thomas Military Academy in 1974. He went to the College of St. Thomas and graduated in 1978 with a degree in sociology and business. After college, Tom worked in restaurant management for seven years before he moved into the finance industry.
The financial sector was Tom’s home for many years of his professional career. He earned his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation in 1992 and became a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) in 1998. He worked for various financial service and banking companies, including long tenures at MetLife and Wells Fargo. He retired from full-time work in 2022 after finishing his career in the Home Mortgage department at Wells Fargo.
Tom works part-time at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines as a starter and enjoys golfing after he finishes his shifts; golfing has been a hobby since he was 10 years old.
A Natural Leader
Tom joined the Knights of Columbus 14 years ago after completing Christ Renews His Parish at St. Francis. It wasn’t long before he showed an interest in serving the council as an officer and was on the path to serve as the Grand Knight.
Among his many accomplishments as a Knight of Columbus, Tom has twice been recognized as the Knight of the Year for Council 12422. Tom is the council’s go-to leader for the annual Mary’s Meals fundraiser, supporting meals for children.
“Mary’s Meals provides food for people in undeveloped countries,” Tom says. “$19.20 will feed one child for a year.”
The annual fundraiser at Jasper Winery in Des Moines generates approximately $30,000, according to Tom. He says that’s enough to feed 2,000 children for a year. Our Council has been involved for many years, preparing and serving food for guests who bring lawn chairs and enjoy outdoor music.
If you see Tom circulating at a Fish Fry, he’s not lost. He’s surveying the parish hall and collaborating with volunteers to identify what needs to be done. That includes working with many of the young people who volunteer to clear tables each Friday night during Lent.
In addition to his involvement in the Knights of Columbus, Tom is an active member and leader in the St. Serra Club of Des Moines. The organization promotes vocations to the priesthood and the religious life and supports active and retired clergy. The St. Serra Club of Des Moines is the third largest chapter in the global organization.
Being part of the Knights of Columbus council has enabled Tom to make new friends not only in the council, but in the parish. As a daily Mass attendee, he enjoys seeing many of the same parishioners each morning as they gather to celebrate the Mass with our parish priests.
Tom brings many gifts to our council, including a natural leadership style from his years of working full-time. We are blessed to call Tom our brother in the Knights of Columbus.
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