This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Fairbank, Crane, Redanz, Kleever, Grabau Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/BUB.2ACI/5878 Message Board Post: Harry Fairbank Harry FAIRBANK was born in Baltimore, Md., to Frank Henry and Sarah CRANE FAIRBANK. When he was thirteen, his family moved to Kansas City, Mo. and there he entered the service of his country in 1914. He chose the army as a career and began his service with the 1st Engineers on the Mexican border. His next assignment was in Washington, D.C. as a part of a cadre which activated the 6th Engineers and with them he served in Europe during World War I. He was wounded in the Champaigne Marne offensive, one of five engagements participated in, and received the Purple Heart medal. During his thirty-two and a half years he saw service in Panama, twice in Hawaii, and during World War II in Iceland. He was promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant in 1935, which rank he held until he retired from active service in 1948. Mr. FAIRBANK was married to Miss Bernice REDANZ in 1928. To them were born four daughters and one son. The family moved to Fillmore, New York in 1941, and it was there that the second daughter, Edith Roberta, was stricken with polio and died. Mr. FAIRBANK was a member of the Dee Victor Thomas Post of the American Legion, and at the time of his death, was it's commanding officer. He was a member of Oriona Lodge, No. 229 F & AM. He faithfully attended the Wesleyan Methodist Church as long as he was able to do so. After a long illness, Mr. FAIRBANK died Sunday morning, October 29th. Following a prayer at the home, the funeral was conducted at the Wesleyan Church Tuesday afternoon, by his pastor the Rev. E.E. ELLIOTT. Burial was in the family lot at Pine Grove Cemetery where a full military service was in charge of the American Legion which had also furnished a guard of honor at the home. Following the salute, taps were sounded by David TOWELL. Mr. FAIRBANK leaves to mourn their loss, his wife, three daughters Evalyn, Effie, Theola, and Noreen, and the son, Harry, Jr., also two sisters Miss Helen FAIRBANK and Mrs. Amy KLEEVER, and three brothers Frank and Elmer of Kanksas City and Bernard of Denver, Colorado; one sister, Mrs. Bessie GRABAU, and one brother, Philip, predeceased him. The community has lost a good citizen and friend, the home a devoted husband and father. [Northern Allegany Observer obituary, transcribed by Louise Y. Mills, 2003, from Cora Lahr's scrapbooks, Fillmore, NY]