John Duane Fairbanks, Sr.

John Duane Fairbanks, Sr.

May 30, 1978 ~ April 18, 2019 (age 40)

John Duane Fairbanks, Sr., age 40, Makandwe, of Bemidji, Minnesota began his journey to the spirit world on Thursday, April 18, 2019. John was born in Bemidji, MN on May 30, 1978 to Priscilla Fairbanks and Ralph Schaaf.

John had a great sense of humor and had the ability to make people laugh or shake their heads. He loved his sons, wife, parents, friends and family. He traveled to visit with family and friends to sit and visit on a regular basis. John was an accomplished impressionist, which contributed to his ability to make people laugh. He learned to make birch bark makaks with his dad. John did very nice work with precision stitches and beautiful trim. He will be missed immensely by his family and friends, both near and far.

Family that welcome John to the spirit world are his maternal grandparents; Albert E. and Lucille Fairbanks, paternal grandparents; Al and Eileen Schaaf, uncles; Donald Schaaf and Richard Fairbanks, aunt; Frances Schaaf and cousins; Sunny Duane Meat, Erin Fairbanks, Jonathan Fairbanks, Kristin Monroe, Casey Monroe, Matthew Schaaf and Tonya Landrum.

Those he leaves behind are his wife; Maria Louisa Fairbanks of Bemidji, sons; Justin Harvey Bellanger and John Duane Fairbanks, Jr., parents; Ralph Schaaf of Ball Club and Priscilla Fairbanks of Cass Lake, aunts; Ruth Schaaf, Sharon Howard, Laura Schaaf, Tawana Fairbanks, Denise Landrum and Kathryn Fairbanks, uncles; Robert, Alex, David and Frank Schaaf, Robert, Duane and Johnny Mac Fairbanks, other relatives and many friends.

An overnight wake for John will begin at 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 24th and continue until his 10:00 a.m. traditional service on Thursday, April 25th all being held at the Ball Club Community Center in Ball Club, MN. Waa-maajaa'iwed Steve Jackson. Pallbearers for John will be Frankie Schaaf, Derek Nason, Amos LaDuke, Dion Fairbanks, Ben Meat and Bryan Meat. Alternates pallbearers are Ub Goggleye, Tyrone Fairbanks, Clayton Bellanger and Angelo Omar. His honorary pallbearers are Odinawemaaganidoog. Interment will be in the Fairbanks Family Burial Grounds at Cass Lake, MN following his Thursday service.

John's care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker. Online condolences for the family may be left at http://www.northernpeace.com