Fay, John G. 'Chip'

John was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, where he was a greeter and usher. He enjoyed participating in and watching many sports, especially golf and he played in many local golf tournaments. He played slow-pitch softball for seven decades. He and Cleone enjoyed traveling and gardening together.

John will be remembered for his friendly personality, his great sense of humor, and his storytelling and jokes which he liked to integrate his wife and children. He cherished his lifelong friendships with his many friends. He was privileged to be included in a World War II Veterans Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C. in October 2010, which he said was a tremendous trip that he will never forget. He truly was from “The Greatest Generation.”

John is survived by seven sons, Dave (Ruth) Fay of Rochester, Bill (Tanya) Fay of Elkader, Mike (Mary Knutson) Fay of Denver, Pat Fay, Tom Fay, Nile (Heather) Fay and Mark (Karla) Fay, all of Iowa City; six daughters and their spouses, Deb and Steve Abbott, West Branch, Mary and Tim Laughlin, Naples, Fla., Lori and Greg Humble of Fort Pierce, Fla., Cathy and Bryan Snyder of Wilton, Ann and Tim Peterson of Rochester, Minn., and Reine and David Obermier of Punta Gorda, Fla.; 17 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Cleone; his parents; four brothers, Theodore, LeRoy, Gerald and Raymond Fay; four sisters, Genevieve Soukup, Dorothy Fay, Elizabeth “Betty” Kaefring Fisher and Loretta Marsh; and an infant son, Thomas, stillborn twin of Bill.

Online condolences and memories may be left for the family at under obituaries.