Robert V Fairbanks

FAIRBANKS GULL WATCHORN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 00:06:42

Sioux City Journal
28 January 2003

Robert V. Fairbanks, 57, of Alton, Iowa, formerly of Sioux City, died unexpectedly Saturday, Jan. 25, 2003, at his residence.

Services will be noon Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sioux City, with the Rev. John Vakulskas Jr. of St. Mary Catholic Church in Alton officiating. Burial will be in Ponca City Cemetery, Ponca, Neb. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. today, with a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Christy-Smith Berkemier Chapel in Sioux City.

Mr. Fairbanks was born May 2, 1945, in Sioux City, the son of Jess A. and Julia C. (Gull) Fairbanks. He was raised in Sioux City. He attended Sacred Heart Elementary School and was a graduate of Heelan High School. He attended mechanic school at Western Iowa Tech Community College.

He married Ruth J. Watchorn on Sept. 26, 1970, in Sioux City. The couple made their home in Sioux City until moving to Alton about 14 years ago. He had worked as a mechanic for the city of Sioux City for a few years, then worked as an electronics technician for AVA Co. out of Orange City, Iowa. Presently, he worked as a multiple head operator for American Identity.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alton. He was an Eagle Scout and enjoyed fishing, woodworking, hunting, spending time with his family, loving his grandson, Morgan, and most of all loving his wife, Ruth. He was in the process of making a cradle for an unborn grandchild.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth of Alton; his mother, Julia C. Fairbanks of Sioux City; a son and his wife, Michael and Randalyn Fairbanks of Ireton, Iowa; two daughters and their husbands, Stephanie and James Gogdill of Mount Zion, Ill., and Bridget and Lucky Overman of Grandview, Wash.; a sister and her husband, Barb and Ed Jones of Sioux City; a brother and his wife, Gary and Tammy Fairbanks of Sioux City; a grandchild, Morgen Overman; an unborn grandchild expected in May; and his mother-in-law, Velma Watchorn of Ponca, Neb.

He was preceded in death by his father, Jess Amos Fairbanks; and his father-in-law, Glen Watchorn.

Pallbearers will be Gary Fairbanks, John Watchorn, Wilbert Mahacek, Gene Rose, Kevin Barnes, Ryan Loehr, Randy Frerichs and Josh Frerichs. Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Mahacek, Tom Bruneau, Elroy Fairbanks, Dale Watchorn and Merle Banta.