Dad dies of cancer the day after family loses everything in house fire

POPLAR GROVE, Ill. (WIFR/Gray News) – An Illinois family is suffering back-to-back tragedies within a day of each other.

The Russo family lost their home in Poplar Grove in a devastating house fire early Tuesday morning, and the family patriarch, 49-year-old John Russo, died from cancer on Wednesday.

John Russo leaves behind a wife and two children, ages 14 and 10.

The family of four, including John Russo in his wheelchair, escaped their burning home early Tuesday morning after midnight.

The family headed to a hotel room in Rockford.

The next day, John Russo, who was in home hospice care for the past three months, died.

His wife, Carli Russo, confirmed his death to WIFR.

“He would do anything for anybody,” his wife said.

John Russo was diagnosed with aggressive small cell lung cancer after a trip to the emergency room on April 30.

“It was so fast-growing, there was nothing they could do,” Carli Russo said.

As for their house, officials said it’s a total loss. The fire is believed to have started in the garage before overtaking the entire home, but firefighters said an exact cause might be difficult to determine due to the extensive damage.

“[I] slammed the door shut, came running in the house screaming for the kids to get out and got my husband in the wheelchair and was able to get him out and across the street with some help from some neighbors,” Carli Russo recalled.

A GoFundMe was started to help the family secure temporary housing, replace essential items and begin the recovery process after the fire.

A separate GoFundMe was previously started to the family following John Russo’s cancer diagnosis. That fundraiser is also still accepting donations.

“It’s very overwhelming to see all the support we’ve gotten,” Carli Russo said.

When asked how the family pushes ahead despite the life-changing challenges, Carli Russo said she doesn’t have another choice.

“I don’t know what else I could do,” she said. “I have to keep making things OK for them [my kids].”