John Barry Guio

1943 - 2025

John Barry Guio
Born: August 25, 1943 in Rochelle, IL
Died: January 23, 2025 in DeKalb, IL
John Barry Guio was born August 25, 1943, in Rochelle, Illinois, to Grace E. and Elmer L. Guio. He died on Thursday, January 23, 2025, surrounded by his loving family at home in DeKalb, Illinois.
John grew up in Rochelle where he graduated high school in 1961. He attended University of Denver and was a proud member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Taking time out from college, he joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves, served for six years and reached rank of sergeant. After boot camp, he transferred to Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman University) in Kirksville, Missouri. There, he met Julia Sue (Sue) Forrester on a blind date. She was the love of his life and soulmate for 58 years. They married December 27, 1966, in Memphis, Missouri, during a blizzard and the next day they settled into a home in DeKalb, Illinois. In 1969, they moved to Denver, Colorado, returning to DeKalb in 1974.
John's first summer job was mowing the Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle and later working in the Del Monte can plant. He began a 50-year career in real estate while working for DeWitt Osgood Realty and specializing in helping veterans obtain VA loans. In Colorado, he sold mountain properties and appraised real estate. After moving back to DeKalb, John returned to Osgood Realty and in 1978, he opened Guio Appraisal and Brokerage. He served as president of DeKalb County Board of Realtors and was Realtor of the Year in 1984. He was active in Illinois Association of Realtors, served as district vice president, chairman of the Realtors Political Action Committee and Graduate Realtors Institute. He also taught real estate marketing and management for several years at Kishwaukee College.
With a heart for serving his community, John was a member of the DeKalb Jaycees, and named Jaycee of the Year and later joined DeKalb Rotary. He served one term as DeKalb Second Ward Alderman and was a member of the DeKalb Planning Commission for several years. Later in his public service career, he found enjoyment serving on the DeKalb County Board of Review for seven years. He was a follower of Christ, for nearly 50 years, and a faithful member of Hillcrest Covenant Church in DeKalb, where he served as a deacon, trustee, and taught adult Sunday School. John was a part of the original committee that supported the creation of PADS Program in DeKalb County (now Hope Haven homeless shelter) and regularly volunteered for the overnight shift when Hillcrest Covenant opened the doors to the homeless.
John was a devoted father and grandfather and truly enjoyed attending his children's and grandchildren's activities. He sweltered in the sun at swim meets, froze on the soccer and football fields, and cheered in comfort at basketball games, volley ball games and gymnastic meets (with a few art exhibits and musical and theater events thrown in).
Having fallen in love with Colorado at a young age, the Mountain State was always John's favorite vacation location. For many years, John, Sue and their three sons spent a week at Horn Creek Christian family camp in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. There he loved taking photos, enjoying God's beautiful creation, going off-roading and reuniting with their "Horn Creek Family."
Photography was one of John's passions with old barns, lighthouses and waterfalls being his favorite subjects. He enjoyed chopping wood (usually on the hottest day of the summer) for a cozy time beside the fireplace with popcorn in hand and family around. Known for making the best-ever popcorn, a skill he learned from his father, there was rarely a time when the special and very large popcorn pan was empty. He enjoyed spending time in Missouri at the family farm, helping fix up the old house and tending the yard, visiting with Sue's cousins, playing cards and having breakfast with the Rutledge Renegades. He loved reading mysteries and spy novels and watching old time Westerns and Hallmark movies.
John is survived by his wife Sue; sons: John Douglas (Becky), and their children: Allison, Melissa and John "Jack"; Christopher Amos (Jenny) and their children: Caleb (Julie), Meredith and Audrey (Dalton) Allen; and Ethan Garrison (Stephanie Irving); great-grandsons: Colter and Henry Guio and Theodore Allen; sister-in-law, Ann Robinson; brother-in-law, Scott (Teresa) Robinson, one niece and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Joe Forrester and a nephew.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, February 1, 2025 at Hillcrest Covenant Church, 1515 N. 1st Street, DeKalb, Illinois, with Pastors Jen Zerby and Jim Sandberg officiating. The visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Memorials may be made to Hope Haven of DeKalb County or the charity of your choice. Cremation care will be provided by the Unger-Horner Funeral Home following the funeral service. Visit www.ungerhorner.com to sign the online guest book.