Randy Caviness, 67, of Greenfield

Funeral Services: Will be held on Friday, July 31, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle with burial following in the Greenfield Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle following the burial. The Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield and Fontanelle is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Open Visitation: Will be held at the Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield on Thursday, July 30, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at the Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Memorials: To the Randy Caviness Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

Randy Merritt Caviness was born October 13, 1958. In recent days he would have joked that he was born in Greenfield “so that he could be close to his mother”. Randy loved studying prophecy and looked forward to his Lord’s return, but he was suddenly called home before the rapture on July 24, 2026 at the age of 67.

Randy was preceded in death by his parents Harold Merritt and Beverly Colleen Claussen Caviness, in-laws Leroy Arthur Schwenke and Janet Ann Jones Schwenke, and infant brother Ronnie Harold Caviness.

At an early age Randy’s love of farming began and he loved all those times spent with Grandpa Merritt and dad to ag tours, open houses, customer appreciation days and such. Just when things were getting good, it was time to start school. One day of school was enough for Randy, so he grabbed an empty suitcase and headed south down the now abandoned road. Just over the bridge on his way up the hill, his father happened to come along on a tractor. His father proceeded to get him on the tractor and take him home. Randy always concluded his story noting that not much was said and there wasn’t even a spanking. Maybe this was his “prodigal son” incident.

Randy’s sense of humor started early as confirmed by a teacher telling his mom of “Randy and his little jokes”. Growing up on the farm with his sisters Becky and Beth helped develop this skill.

Randy fondly recalled starting his hog operation with a pregnant sow named Geraldine. She had 14 pigs that he successfully raised. He built quite a large hog operation. After his Junior year at Orient he switched his senior year to Greenfield because they had a work study program that allowed more time for things such as grinding feed for those hungry mouths.

Randy was involved in Future Farmers of America (FFA) and became the Iowa Star Farmer and achieved his American Farmer Degree. By the time he met Janalee there could be no doubt that farming would be a large part of their lives.

Randy and Janalee were married October 2, 1982 at the Massena Baptist Church. They spent twenty years of weekends together while he farmed and she worked in Nebraska. The eighties were hard times for farmers…………..

On the Fourth of July 1996 they welcomed their “firecracker” son Merritt Arthur Caviness into their lives. Randy would later “bust buttons” when Merritt walked on stage for Iowa Star finalist and later American Farmer Degree. Randy was proud to be in farm pictures with his father and son.

Randy had a key role in the new enterprise of farming the wind through the Farm Bureau Gold Star program. This would culminate in the thirteen community owned wind turbines able to produce 21.5 megawatts of power to our local communities. Randy was a manager on each of the LLCs and used his wit to name Sky Volt that promptly went from start to tower commissioning in only a few months.

Along with his farming, Randy was an elder at the Greenfield Gospel Chapel. He also served on the American Farm Bureau Energy Committee, Iowa Farm Bureau Energy Committee, Adair County Farm Bureau Pres, VP, Voting Delegate, Adair County Soil & Water Commissioner, Adair County Extension Council, and Gideons.

Randy will be remembered by his wife Janalee of 43 years, his son, Merritt of Greenfield, his sisters Becky (Alton) Davis of Ozark, MO and Beth (Tilman) LaBuff of Waddell, AZ. Sisters and brothers-in-law Leanne Schwenke of LaVista, NE, Susan Jones of Bellevue, NE, Jeff (Karen) Schwenke of Anita, Bruce (Naomi) Schwenke of Bondurant and Trisha Schwenke of Massena, eleven nieces and nephews, and many great nieces and nephews.

Randy will be remembered for his sense of humor and generous spirit. But most important to him is that each of you would be prepared as he was to meet his Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ.