Doug and Lori Phalen of Ohio, Ill., are announcing the engagement of their daughter, Cara Phalen of Sterling, to Jeffery Firch of Morrison. He is the son of Gary Firch of Geneseo and the late Shelly (Sloan) Firch.

The bride-elect is a 2008 graduate of Ohio High School, a 2012 graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago and a 2014 graduate of Midwestern University. She is employed by CGH Medical Center Main Clinic in Sterling as a physician assistant.

Her fiancé is a 2003 graduate of Fulton High School and a 2005 graduate of the Morrison Institute of Technology. He is employed by American Piping Group of Morrison as a steel engineer.

The couple are planning an Oct. 26 wedding at Deer Valley Banquets in Deer Grove. Invitations have been sent.