05/29/2026
It is with great sorrow that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of retired Lieutenant-Paramedic John Newberry.
A native of Oak Park, John served the Village of River Forest for over 20 years, holding the positions of Firefighter-Paramedic, Lieutenant, Hazardous Materials Technician, and Technical Rescue Specialist. John was a past President and Secretary of Local 2391, and was a mentor to many of our members in financial and retirement planning. His catchphrase, “You gotta have a plan, Daddy!” is a permanent part of the RFFD language, and he never missed a chance to tell us about seeing Bob Seger live in 1986.
John was a lifelong fan of the outdoors, and volunteered his time and labor to maintain wilderness trails throughout the US. He was also an avid bike-packer and had completed the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route twice, pedaling from Canada to New Mexico. At the time of his passing, he was riding from Missouri to Colorado on the Golden Gravel Trail. He will be dearly missed.
All services will be at St. Patrick’s Church at 173 W Union St. in Seneca, IL. Visitation will be Sunday, May 31 from 3-6 pm, and the Funeral will be on Monday, June 1 at 11 a.m.
