John Martin Gaskin

John Martin Gaskin, age 64, of Danville passed away at 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 16, 2005. He was born July 28, 1940 in Owen County, Indiana to James H. Gaskin and Dorothy M. McDaniel Gaskin. John is survived by his wife of 39 years, Margaret Anne Fagg Gaskin of Danville; two daughters Julia G. (Jonathan) Coan of Elmhurst, Ill.; Anne L. Gaskin of Chicago, Ill.; his mother Dorothy Gaskin of Pimento, Ind.; one brother Bill (Shirley) Gaskin of Pimento, Ind.; two sisters Mary Fern Stewart of Farmersburg, Ind. and Ruth (Lloyd) Dalton of Clay City, Ind.; two sisters-in-law: Linda Fagg Hardin and Verna DeBaun Gaskin, both of Terre Haute, Ind.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father James Gaskin, father-in-law Clayne Fagg, mother-in-law Helen Morris Fagg Mitchell, brother Paul Thomas Gaskin and niece Paula Jean Gaskin. John graduated from Pimento High School, Pimento, Ind. in 1958. He completed The Electrician Apprenticeship Program in 1963 and worked as an electrician for BA Electric in Terre Haute, Ind. until 1979. John served in the Indiana National Reserves and was recognized as the Outstanding Army Reservist for Indiana by The Indianapolis News in 1969. In May of 1979, John moved his family to Danville, Ill. and purchased Leverenz Electric where he served as president until 2000. During his time as president of Leverenz Electric, John served on various boards for the Illinois Chapter of National Electrical Contractor's Association (NECA). He served on the Apprenticeship Committee for Local 538; the NECA-IBEW Health and Welfare Board; the NECA-IBEW Pension Board; and served one term as the vice president of the governing board for the Illinois Chapter of NECA-IBEW. In 2000, John was awarded veteran member status. Under John's leadership, Leverenz Electric was the recipient of the Thomas H. Madigan Special Merit Award in 1997 for outstanding new construction of The Chemical and Life Sciences Laboratory at the University of Illinois as recognized by the Capital Development Board of Illinois. Additionally, the U.S. Small Business Administration recognized Leverenz Electric as an outstanding Small Business for Achievement and Community Support. John was also active in his community on behalf of his church and family. As a member of Ridgeview Baptist Church in Danville, Ill., he served on the Board of Trustees; Board of Missions; and was chairman of the Site Committee. As a father, John lent many hours of support to the sports and music programs of District 118 schools.