Earl Binns

Earl Binns was born January 25, 1938 to Alferd and Emma Gene Mary Louisa (Gonseth) Binns in Winterset, Iowa. He was the oldest of three children, his siblings being Katherine Herrick and Maryann Garrison. During his school years at Winterset, he participated in track, football and was President of the FFA Chapter his senior year, as well as helping his father on the farm.

After graduation in 1956, he continued to help with the farm and was a member of the Air National Guard Unit in Des Moines, Iowa for six years.

Earl also built and drove Class AA drag race cars and funny cars. He had one of the first rear-engine Top Fuel cars built by Don Garlits. Earl acquired a national reputation as the "Fuelin' Farmer" until 1976, when he returned to farming full time due to his father's failing health. Earl continued to farm the family farm and acquired a farm of his own. Earl was very talented. He could build almost any piece of equipment he needed and repair it in his own machine shop. The family farm was recognized as a Century Farm by the State of Iowa in 1986.

Upon retiring from farming, Earl wintered in Apache Junction, AZ for 23 years. During his time in Arizona, he owned a horse property and went on trail rides. Having played the guitar some during his growing up years, he returned to playing the guitar in retirement and played at many jams and festivals in Arizona, Iowa and Nebraska. He was inducted into the Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame in August 2018. Earl enjoyed meeting friends, hosting pig roasts, dancing and traveling.

Earl passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at the Stuart Community Care Center surrounded by his family. He was 87. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother-in-law Katherine and Charles Herrick, and sister Maryann Garrison.

Those left to cherish his memory are his nephew, Robert (Julie) Herrick, nieces Susan (Dave) McDonald; Donna (Jim) Thrap; and Rhonda Livingston; brother-in-law Ralph Garrison; and uncle Charles (Marilyn) Gonseth. He will also be fondly remembered by many extended relatives and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on September 7, 2025 from 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the Jackson Building located on the Madison County Fairgrounds in Winterset, Iowa. Private burial will be at the Winterset Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the family for a future designation.