E. John Faassen

E. John Faassen, age 95, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 in Barrington, IL with his loving family by his side.

John was born to Grace and Fred Faassen, and grew up in Zion, IL with his two sisters Betty and Ginny. After graduating from Zion High School, he attended Middlebury College and served as an officer in the US Navy during World War II, traveling from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo. With active duty on a Destroyer Escort in the Pacific, he served as a Sonar Officer and Gunnery Officer on the DE 367, USS French. After returning from the war he completed his education with a bachelor’s degree from Lake Forest College and was married to Evelyn Capp, his high school sweetheart, in 1947. With a “marriage made in heaven” he constructed their first home, with the help of Evie’s Dad and brothers in Zion.

John’s career in industrial chemical sales and marketing began at Abbott Laboratories, requiring extensive travel to customers and business conventions. Through both business and personal travel, he reached every state in the U.S. After 18 years at Abbott Laboratories, moving his family from Zion to Whippany, NJ and Lake Bluff, IL, he joined Henley & Co, a representative of foreign manufacturers of specialty chemicals based in New York. With his strong personal skills, he enjoyed building close relationships with colleagues in the U.S. as well as from Switzerland and Germany. John expanded the business further and opened the Midwest operation of Henley & Co, coordinating a merger with Delamar Inc., another chemical distributor in Chicago. He retired from chemical sales in 1984 but didn’t stay idle for long. Interested in his own financial security, he became a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, attained a Series 7 license, and joined Strom Financial Planning in Lake Forest, IL, advising clients on their personal finances. John appreciated his retirement to the fullest, with time to explore his many hobbies and interests. He and Evie moved to Tucson, AZ where they enjoyed golf, travel and an active social life.

John was devoted to his family and contributed to his community. He was involved in church activities, serving as Deacon at the Lake Forest Presbyterian church and Treasurer of the Presbyterian church in Tucson. In Lake Bluff he was active on the committee for the local Boy Scouts supporting his boys, with one son and three grandsons becoming Eagle Scouts. He enjoyed photography, gardening, playing golf and was an accomplished woodworker and restorer of antiques, leaving his family with several treasured pieces of furniture. Travel was a favorite past-time with many family camping trips to the U.S. National Parks, followed by trips to Europe until he was 93. He kept himself busy throughout his life, utilizing the latest computer technologies to write three books covering his own life and those of his ancestors. His heritage was very important to him.

John is survived by his sister Ginny Studebaker of Geneva, IL; daughter Pat and husband Barry Butterfield of Omaha, NE; son Marty and wife Syd of Copper Harbor, MI; son David and wife Lina Cho, of Kirkland, WA; daughter Anne and husband Rob Johnson; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held for the immediate family in July.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Journey Care Foundation. https://journeycare.org/journeycare-foundation/