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Funeral Services Set for Michael D. Fairbanks

Visitation and services are scheduled Saturday for St. Charles East grad known for his gay activism and leadership.

 

Funeral arrangements have been made for the St. Charles teen and Elgin Community College student who was found dead Tuesday afternoon in an Elburn home.

Visitation for Michael D. Fairbanks, 19, of St. Charles, will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Yurs Funeral Home, 1771 W. State St., Geneva, and the services will begin at 2 p.m., according to the obituary the funeral home posted to its website. Burial will be private.

Fairbanks was was found unresponsive in an Elburn home about 3:35 p.m., where paramedics determined he was dead at the scene, according to the Kane County Chronicle.

Authorities suspect said they suspect no foul play, but are in the early stages of their investigation, which includes toxicology tests whose results will not be back for some time.

The death of Fairbanks, the son of Denise and Michael Fairbanks, prompted an outpouring of grief and admiration for the young man, who graduated in January 2012 from St. Charles East High School. According to his obituary, he was a full-time student at Elgin Community College and a member of the National Honor Society. He also played the cello, sang in the Honors Choir, and was a member of the Gay Straight Alliance. He was an avid outdoors-man and animal-rights activist.

While at St. Charles East, Fairbanks was Youth Leader of the Year in 2009 for his work with the Youth Outlook, an organization founded in DuPage County to serve gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning youth, according the Chronicle.

According to his obituary, Fairbanks is survived by his parents, sister, Elle Boynton, many aunts, uncles, cousins, his beloved cats Bubby and Phoebe, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents George and Charlotte Council and paternal grandparents Charles and Margaret Fairbanks, and Cousin Erik Gabriel.

Contributions may be made to The Animal Protective League, 1001 Taintor Road, Springfield, IL 62702, www.apl-shelter.org.

Online condolences or remembrances to the family can be made on the funeral home’s obituary page at www.yursfuneralhomes.com.

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Related Topics: Found Dead in Elburn, Michael D. Fairbanks, Obituary for Michael D. Fairbanks, St. Charles, and St. Charles East

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