Gordon Fishburn
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Gordon L. Fishburn died December 11, 2018 at Weiss Memorial Hospital, in Chicago after suffering a stroke. Services will be January 12 at Saint Paul’s United Church of Christ, Chicago. His ashes will be interred at Saint Paul’s.
Gordon was born February 26, 1932 in Lawrence, KS to Aubrey and Dorothy Griffith Fishburn. He grew up on the family farm near Lone Star, was a member of Lone Star Church of the Brethren, attended Apple Pie school, and Liberty Memorial High School, Lawrence, KS. Gordon graduated from McPherson College with a Bachelor of Science in Music in 1954.
After college Gordon volunteered with Brethren Volunteer Service, a Church of the Brethren organization. In 1958 he was an exchange teacher at Melanchthon Schule near Treysa, Germany, where he taught English. He was also a housefather at the school, and upon his return to the U.S., became determined to encourage schools to provide more foreign languages, and to encourage young people to take them.
He settled in Chicago, teaching first in a Greek parochial school, and then in public schools in the Melrose Park area. He attended First Church of the Brethren in Chicago for many years before finding a home at Saint Paul’s United Church of Christ where he was active in the choir. He also sang with the Chicago Master Singers, and traveled to Europe many times with the group. When his voice faltered, he became the church’s music librarian. He continued to attend choral and orchestra concerts, including organ recitals, which he treasured the most. He was much loved, and is very much missed by the congregation of Saint Paul’s.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Melvin, and nephew David Fishburn. He is survived by his brother Alvin (Angie) of Lawrence, four nieces, four nephews, 20 great-nieces and nephews, 34 great-great nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins.
Memorials can be given to the Sexton Music Fund at Saint Paul’s, 2335 N. Orchard, Chicago, IL 60614. The fund provides for maintenance for the pipe organ, which Gordon loved.