John Howard Fairbanks

John Howard Fairbanks, born to Christina Marie Howard (Fairbanks) and David Gene Fairbanks on September 26, 1981, in Deer River, Minnesota. John had peacefully passed away in Cass Lake, Minnesota on October 6, 2025.

John’s favorite past-time was hanging out with family. In the season of fall, he loved ricing (gathering wild rice). He loved prepping for ricing by making his own ricing knockers and ricing poles. Another activity he loved doing was picking boughs -just basically spending time in nature. John’s hobbies were the art of drawing and sewing beadwork (beading). At the casino, John like to gamble by playing the Keno machine.

Those who knew John will remember how he loved to tell jokes and make others laugh. He also loved being with his pets/animals.

John was very spiritual-he believed in the Anishinabe culture and traditional ways of our people. John leaves behind his mother, Christina Howard and his father, Gene Fairbanks, his siblings, Benjamin (Ben) Fairbanks (Rhonda), David “Neptune” Fairbanks, Gina Fairbanks, Doug Wind, Dustin “Dusty” Fairbanks, Derek Fairbanks, Dora Fairbanks and Elizabeth “Lizzy” Fairbanks all family whom will miss him dearly.

John is survived by his children: Darius Fairbanks. Also including two beautiful daughters Aliyah and Alexis Fairbanks whom he had with Lana Bellanger.

John will also be deeply missed by his nieces Miranda Fairbanks, Mya Fairbanks and nephew Benjamin (Lil Ben) Fairbanks, all family and friends including uncles, aunts and many cousins.

John is reunited with his maternal grandparents Doris Mae Howard and Ernest Howard, Jr.

Officiating the service will be Allen Hardy.

Pallbearers for John will be George Whipple, Dorian Bismark, Thomas Goodman, Joe Wilson, Scott Whitebird, Isaac RedDay & Jim Brown.

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