John W. Fecich Jr., 71, of Meridian died at 10:25 a.m. Wednesday at his home after fighting a courageous battle with leukemia.

Born Sept. 16, 1936, in Butler, he was the son of John W. Sr. and Mary Yakubic Fecich.

John was a graduate of Butler High School's class of 1954, and then attended Slippery Rock University.

After achieving his teaching degree in 1958, he was hired as a 10th grade social studies teacher at Hooker High School. In 1959, Hooker High School closed, and he transferred to the new Moniteau High School, where he was a history teacher until 1972. Along the way, he had attended Westminster College and had earned two master's degrees, one in guidance and counseling and the other in higher education.

From 1972 until 1977, John had moved into the guidance office at Moniteau, and from 1977 until his retirement in 1993, he was the principal of Moniteau High School. All throughout John's career in education, his greatest joy was staying connected to and helping the students.

As an educator, John was highly respected among his peers and by the students who came into contact with him.

He also had another passion — golf. As an avid golfer, he played the wonderful and yet challenging game starting at the young age of 12. He participated in many leagues and tournaments around the Butler County area throughout his life until the unfortunate timeliness of his illness. His love for the game of golf was an inspiration to everyone who had the opportunity to play with him.

John is survived by a daughter, Ms. Lisa Marie Campbell of Butler; a son, John W. Fecich III of New Jersey; and his three grandchildren, John W. Fecich IV and Jacob and Christopher Campbell. He also is survived by a sister, Val Jean Freehling and her husband, Walter, of Denver, Colo.; a niece, Trina L. Bibbero and her husband, Alan, and their daughter, Nikki, also of Denver. John also shared his life and is survived by three stepchildren and their families whom he equally loved, David and Nicholas McCarl and Ms. Lori McCarl Piroch.

<B>FECICH </B>— Friends of John W. Fecich Jr., who died Wednesday, May 21, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with his cousin, the Rev. George Hnatko, of the Eastern Orthodox Foundation, Indiana, Pa., officiating. Burial will follow at North Side Cemetery.Parastas services will be held at 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.