I am Tom Cox, the current owner of Iowa Career Connection, an executive placement practice that Al Fering founded in 2000. I only got five years in Al’s orbit, but in those years we carried each other through some tumultuous seasons of life. 

I like to think it was fate that brought us together, but really it was our mutual friend Kelly Senkyr, to whom I will ever be grateful.

Al and I hit it off right away, we understood each other as men determined to chart our own course. As it happened, we drank a lot of coffee and laughed so much as we topped each other with our game of… “You’ll never believe what happened to me this weekend!”

When I purchased the practice, Al said, “I’ll give you six months, and then I’m outta here.” Three years later he was still there, only now I was responsible for making the coffee, watering the office plants, and occasionally watering Al.

Al hated anything high-tech. He regarded the smartphone as a necessary evil. Whenever anything broke or did not work…and things rarely worked for Al, he would look at you and say, “Technology.” When you fixed it, he would peer at the device, grunt, and say, “Huh. Technology.”

Al was a latecomer to the fraternity of Freemasonry, and while not naturally a joiner, saw its merits and succumbed to my persistent badgering. He threw himself into the Gentle Craft with gusto. At least with what passes for "gusto" with Al. He was excellent at sitting on the side and chewing his ever-present gum.

As for his own integrity, Al’s word was his bond. He could be trusted with the deepest secret and the greatest treasure. He produced the tagline for the business, “Top Talent, Absolute Integrity.” With Al, you knew that personal integrity was a core value, and at the very center of his North Dakota soul. I will miss Al dearly.


I spent several years of my life involved in an amazing "think tank" study group called Students of Business (SOB) which included myself and Al Fering, Bruce Dickes, Jeff Casset, Jim Cannon, and other smart men. We helped each other navigate our complex careers and enhanced our ability to succeed. It was the most intelligent and enjoyable group of friends I have had in my life. Al was just a year older than I. I will miss you Al and hope to play a bit of disc golf together again someday in the afterlife. R.I.P. Al.

I met Al back in the early 80s when I called on him when he was in charge of HR at American Mutual.  He was so kind to a newbie in the staffing industry.  He and his co-workers loved coffee nips!  When I branched out on my own, Al was always helpful and willing to share his knowledge of the industry.  He always had a smile on his face and had a great sense of humor!  We will miss him!

I first met Al in the spring of 2003. He was dear friends with a disc golfer who I worked with at Key Employment Services. A year later I joined Al at Iowa Career Connection. We were together until 2019. It was early in my tenure with Al that I learned about his honest and integrity rich approach to life and business. Al and I had great times together through all of the challenges we faced especially in 2008. We took many road trips throughout Iowa and had many hours together talking about life in general. His love for his family was steadfast. He endured Martha's battle with cancer with grace and patience. My friend, we will miss you. Thank you for everything you did for our industry.  Thank you for the opportunity to work with you!

  Miles Morrow, CPC

We loved our time getting to know Al at Luther Memorial Church.  The trip to Germany and seeing old buildings blended with new construction and our dreams of making some of those improvements at our church was a favorite topic with Al, Ken, Russ, Kurt and I.  He was such a positive person with steady energy.  He will be greatly missed. 

OBITUARY

Loren "Al" Marshall Fering

August 10, 1950 – July 7, 2021

McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel & Mortuary & Resthaven Cemetery

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Updates

Services