Jon David Faubel

Jon David Faubel, 72, passed away on May 16th at his home in Graham, North Carolina.

   The funeral director told me that obituaries are usually written in the third person. He said to highlight our loved one’s accomplishments and hobbies. Anyone who knew dad knows that “the usual” just doesn’t quite fit; and that he’d rather have us highlight the ways God worked in his life. So, here it goes.

    Born to Robert and Arlene Faubel in Peoria, Illinois, on September 27th, dad was the fourth of five children. His siblings - Lynn, Karen, Dan, and Mary Jo - have endless stories of the joy and frustration dad brought into their lives. One of the most infamous is when dad put Mary Jo on top of the refrigerator. Other fond memories include dad making homemade pizza on Sunday evenings, his car security system submission to Popular Mechanics, and his unwavering positive attitude during countless physical ailments. The last one is a character trait he would be known for throughout his life.

   Dad met mom through mutual friends, and they were married just less than a year later. That was 49 years ago, February 10th. We would be hard-pressed to find a more committed love than the one that the two of them shared.

   Many knew dad as a man who walked with the Holy Spirit daily. He never passed up an opportunity to pray for family, friends, and strangers. But not everyone knows that his true walk with the Lord began when he lived in California around age 35. Though he had attended church his whole life, he always said that he didn’t have a relationship with Christ until that time in California.

    Dad often referred to his life before salvation as “completely lost,” even though others would have described him as an amazing human being. Dad knew that being “good” was not what the Christian life is truly about and ultimately not what would bring him the opportunity to spend eternity in heaven. Dad said everything changed after he got saved; his purpose, goals, and relationships. He began to allow the Holy Spirit to lead and, as a result, led countless others to follow Christ and live out their purpose as well.

     While we could list all of the incredible things about dad - a huge heart, light in the dark smile, and ferocious laughter - he would not want us to miss an opportunity to share the love of Christ, even in his passing.

    Don’t miss this: our time on earth is limited, but the hope we can have in Jesus is not.

    If you have questions about salvation, ask his incredible wife (Ann) or any of his children (Michael and Ginny, Traci, Sabrina, or Jonathan and Val), or his grandchildren (Catie, Zack, Ben, Juliann, Kyrie, and Kaia) - because of dad, every single one of us have the love of Christ and the hope of Jesus.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life party in June. (details will be forthcoming)

Memorials may be made to Authoracare, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215 or Prostate Cancer Research.