Tony Lindley, 61, found he was a descendant to the famous historical figure when he carried on the life-long work of his father, Thomas.
Mr Lindley, who worked for Peter Scott Trees in Tetford, emigrated to mid-France from his home near Donington on Bain two years ago.
But he was diagnosed with stomach cancer and died in a French hospital earlier this month.
Former colleagues said Mr Lindley was a 'popular man, who worked hard and had a wry sense of humour.'
They said Mr Lindley had worked all his life, but were sad to hear he 'hadn't the chance to enjoy his retirement.'
The search into Mr Lindley's genealogy began with Thomas, who found the small town of Lindley Green, Yorkshire, was his family's ancestral home.
This provided the starting point for Mr Lindley's amazing journey through time.
In ancient records mention was found of William de Lindley in 1240, whose son, William, was engaged to marry Alice, daughter of Falcon de Wakefield.
A tombstone in Otley Church, near Lindley, gave the family's lineage for 16 generations and from this Mr Lindley discovered Faulkasus de Lindley was a direct ancestor of Guy Fawkes's family.
When interviewed in 2002, Mr Lindley said he was not surprised at the extraordinary find. He said: "I suppose you never really know what will turn up."
He added history did not treat his distant relative badly, remarking 'the winning side always writes the history."
Unlike Guy Fawkes, Mr Lindley's passion did not lie with gunpowder but with restoring oil engines and street organs, which he sold when he emigrated.
Mr Lindley's family moved to Horncastle, and later to the Donington on Bain area, when Mr Lindley was 14.
He retired to France at the same time as former colleague Steve Brown, and his wife.
Mr Lindley was granted French citizenship, and he became a popular member of the local community.
His funeral was held last week.

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