Loving Husband -John Fairgrieve, Belvidere-80 John H. Fairgrieve 80 of Belvidere passed away Thursday October 12, 2006 in Rosewood Care Center after a lengthy illness. John was born on October 21, 1925 in Garden Prairie, IL, the son of William and Katherine (Heideman) Fairgrieve. He married Karen Gipp on September 2, 1977. He served in the U.S. Marines during WWII. He participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima. He was raised from age eight by his Aunt Elsie who instilled in him strong mid-western values of honesty, hard work, integrity, and frugality. These strong moral values served him well during his forty-seven year career with Belvidere Township, where he served as road commissioner for twenty-three years. He retired on September 10, 1994. During his leisure time, John greatly enjoyed cooking, puttering with his shop smith, and pursuing his life long passion for trains and steam engines. John is survived by his devoted wife Karen; daughter Trudy (Byron) Johnson; Stepson Kelly Gipp,; Step daughter Jamie (Brad) Sandall; granddaughter Alison Smith, grandson Logan Johnson; great grandchildren, Tegan and Tatum Smith; step grandchildren, Ryan and Samantha Gipp, and many nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Shirley, and two sisters. Special thanks to Dr. L. Robert Warren, and all the caring staff at Rosewood. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday October 16, at Buck-Wheeler-Hyland Funeral Home with the Reverend Bob Kopp, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Belvidere officiating. Visitation will be Sunday October 15 from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. at Buck-Wheeler-Hyland Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Illinois Railway Museum in Union IL.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Illinois Railway Museum in Union IL.