John Thomas Bandy

John Thomas Bandy, 67, of Champaign, passed away at home at 6:15 a.m., Monday, April 2, 2018, following a brief illness.  A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 10th at Renner-Wikoff Chapel and Crematory. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 11th, at Community United Church of Christ, 805 S. 6th St., Champaign. The Rev. Leah Robberts-Mosser will officiate.

John was born April 28, 1950, in Amarillo, Texas to Anne (Deitiker) and Thomas Edd Bandy; they preceded him in death.  On August 21, 1976, he married Connie Tapp in Lubbock, Texas; she survives. Also surviving are two children, Mara Fass (Jason), of Savoy, and Matthew Bandy (Theresa), of Issaquah, Washington; and twin granddaughters, Elena and Caroline Bandy of Issaquah. Two sisters, Marianne Davis (Tom), of Plymouth, Minnesota, and Janet Ingram (Temple) of Austin, Texas, also survive. 

After completing a bachelor’s degree in Biology at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, John went on to earn his master’s degree in in Agronomy and his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Wastewater Engineering).  He worked for the Army Corps of Engineers at the Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) Construction Engineering and Research Lab (CERL) in Champaign from 1978 until his retirement in 2013, serving in several roles ranging from research to project oversight and management.  During his time there, John completed his Master’s in Business Administration at the University of Illinois.

John sought to follow the path of peace and deep compassion for others throughout his life, a passion deeply rooted in his strong Christian faith and spirituality.  He put his beliefs into practice by volunteering extensively for many organizations, including Provena Hospice, Prisoner Visitation and Support, the Marilyn Queller Child Care Center, and Faith in Action.  John was a member of Community United Church of Christ, where he served as treasurer for more than 20 years for the United Campus Foundation (Campus Ministry).

John was an avid lifelong learner and reader who pursued many eclectic interests over the years: meditation, genealogy, astronomy, ham radio, the Chicago Cubs, film classes, opera, and nature (especially trees and birds). He also dabbled in writing short stories influenced by his Texas childhood. John’s loved ones will remember him as someone who possessed great curiosity about the world along with a great desire to make that world a kinder and more peaceful place. They will miss his sharp sense of humor, the frequent twinkle in his eye, and the unfailing love he showed as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. 

The family asks that memorial contributions be made to Brookfield Zoo, Champaign Public Library, or the Community United Church of Christ.  Condolences may be offered online at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com.

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