Michael Chamberlain, whose baby girl Azaria died in 1980 after being stolen by a dingo in the Australian desert, will be farewelled at a funeral in NSW next week.
The funeral for Mr Chamberlain, 72, will be held at Cooranbong on Monday following his death at Gosford Hospital from complications of leukaemia.
"His fight for justice will remain a lesson for all of us in this country," Seventh-day Adventist pastor Jorge Munoz said on Thursday.
Mr Chamberlain and ex-wife Lindy had four children together, but it was the disappearance of their third, baby Azaria, that thrust the couple into a long-running public spotlight and legal nightmare.
Despite her protests that a dingo took Azaria, Lindy was found guilty of murder and jailed for life in 1982, while Michael was given an 18-month suspended sentence for being an accessory.
They were pardoned in 1986 after new evidence emerged, but had to wait until 2012 for a fourth inquest and vindication when a coroner ruled two-month-old Azaria was killed by a dingo.
The baby's disappearance originally sparked speculation the Chamberlains, being members of the little-known Seventh-Day Adventist Church, killed Azaria in some sort of ritual sacrifice.
"The Chamberlains and their supporters displayed incredible tenacity as they fought for justice and were successful in having Lindy released and the verdict overturned," an article published by the church said.
"But the constant pressure and public scrutiny came at a cost, with Michael leaving pastoral ministry in 1984 and divorcing Lindy in 1991."
Friend John Hammond said Mr Chamberlain's health quickly declined after being admitted to hospital last week, and he would be sorely missed.
"Michael was a man of many parts and acquired fame that he never wanted," Dr Hammond said.
"He was very mild-mannered, but he was passionate. Because of how they were treated (after Azaria's death) he developed an extremely strong sense of justice."
The funeral will be held at the Avondale College Church in Cooranbong on Monday afternoon.
