On Friday, November 24, 2023, John passed away peacefully in his sleep in his Meridian, ID home. He would have been 83 on December 4.  In his more than 82 years, John left a legacy as he positively impacted lives as a beloved husband, father, son, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, minister, and friend.

John was born in Lakin, KS, the youngest of eight children, to Carl and Helen Moreland.  His father, mother, and seven siblings preceded him in death.  He graduated from Deerfield Kansas High School in 1958 and attended Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) for his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Religion/Religious Studies, graduating in 1965. He was the first of his family to earn a college degree, and two older brothers later graduated in the same program at ENMU. While attending ENMU he met his wife, Rowena Fern Gilman, and they married on July 1, 1960. They were married for 63 years.

During college, John began a drywall and painting business.  He trained multiple friends and family members, impacting many who continued in construction-related work for their entire careers.  He continued to use these skills throughout his life to provide extra income, to serve others, and to help his children with home renovations.

John and Fern began their lives together in Portales, NM, and later lived in Edmond, OK, Boise, ID, and Memphis, TN.  John’s lifelong career was in Campus Ministry, working at Central State University in OK until 1971, Boise State University in ID until 1984, and the University of Memphis in TN until 1999.  From 1999-2007 John and Fern were back in Portales, NM. His final assignment from God returned them to Boise State as Director of the Biblical Studies Center from 2007-2013.  John and Fern lived out their faith, setting an example in selfless service, daily prayer and Bible study.

John and Fern set the standard for hospitality, opening their home to young and old, day or night. John was a beloved elder of the Southside Church of Christ in Portales, NM, and the Boise Church of Christ in ID.  John, partnering with Fern, taught thousands of students, officiated hundreds of weddings, and personally mentored hundreds of students to follow Christ who point to his influence as a significant milestone in their development. Uniquely, John taught accredited Bible classes where students received credit from Christian colleges while attending a public university.

Family and ministry were intertwined for John. John and Fern worked together to raise all their kids (students included) to love Jesus and serve God. In campus ministry, they organized and hosted seminars, retreats, Bible studies, Friday night “devotional” student gatherings, and much more. John and Fern were involved in the lives of countless students and led many people to Christ. All five of their children were involved in their campus ministry throughout their young lives and, significantly, also as they were college age, with lasting impact on each of their lives. John loved and taught his family as they worked together to serve God.

John was instrumental in founding and leading the National Campus Ministries Seminar and received the Stephen Eckstein Campus Ministry Award in 1997. With the support of the local church, John helped design and build two facilities to host and support campus ministry, the first in Edmond, OK, and the second in Boise, ID. The Boise Biblical Studies Center is still a thriving center for ministry to Boise State students. Monty followed in John’s footsteps to work in campus ministry, and in 2007 moved to Boise to work with John to lead at the Biblical Studies Center until John retired in 2013.

John and Fern led international student outreach through campus ministry. At the University of Memphis, they worked with students from Taiwan and China, and in subsequent years, from all over the world. John and Fern traveled to Taiwan twice in the 1990s to visit former students and on a Let’s Start Talking (LST) mission. They organized, led, and sent LST teams all over the world to teach English through the study of the Bible. Monica, Milton, Malisa, and other extended family in addition to students traveled with John on some of these missions, and Monica served as a long-term missionary in Kyiv as a result of this work where she also started a campus ministry.

John loved to joke, prank, laugh, and have fun. He led students in group games, a favorite of his being “Who-sir-me-sir?”.  He loved singing, playing sports (he was a letterman at Deerfield High), and watching official college games. You probably could not have beat him in ping pong. He loved playing with his kids and grandkids.

John was an enthusiastic supporter of Camp Ivydale, Idaho City. He directed many camps and student retreats where he preached and taught, and he helped to maintain the property as well.  He loved camping there with his family and friends. He served on the camp board during both his early Boise years and again when he returned to Boise in 2007. A joy of his was that he served on the board together with his grandson Kendall.

Family was a top priority for John. John and Fern’s annual vacation mostly involved a long drive to visit their parents, to see extended family, their kids, or to support and celebrate grandkids. Innumerable students were invited into the Moreland home, treated as true family, which they are. This adopted family only grew throughout the years, expanding God’s love in each new home.

John’s life is an admirable example of resilience, creativity, devotion to family, and faith. He will be missed greatly, especially for his joyful personality, generosity, sense of humor, spiritual leadership, wisdom, kindness, and open door to everyone.

John and Fern were blessed with 5 children, 13 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. John is survived by his wife, Fern Moreland. John loved his wife and family deeply. In recent days, John would repeat to Fern each evening, “We have the best family in the world.”  Melodie Miller (the late Scott Miller), Monica Moreland, Milton Moreland (Dina), Monty Moreland (Mari Beth), Malisa Williams (Paul).

John was proud of his children who have followed in his footsteps to teach and serve. Melodie taught children in elementary school and now supports her children and grandchildren each day. Monica was a missionary in Ukraine and now serves as a counselor and minister. Milton was a college professor and now serves as a college president. Monty followed in John’s footsteps in full-time ministry, and now is a self-supported minister. Malisa serves the Boise community as a private practice Christian counselor and licensed clinical social worker.

Grandchildren: Cooper Miller (Molly), Mason Miller, Carly Miller (Tyson), Marcus Moreland (Caroline), Micah Moreland, Kendall Moreland (Shannon), Abby Moreland (Matt), Mattie Grace Moreland, Amelia Moreland, Caleb Williams, Hannah Williams, Moriah Williams, Elizabeth Williams

Great grandchildren: Wyatt Miller, Carson Miller, Everly Miller

We also want to recognize the many beloved extended family members and friends who are counted as family.

“For you may have countless instructors in Christ, but you don’t have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me.”

1 Corinthians 4:15-16

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. For he knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.”

Psalms 103:11-14

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

You are invited to gather with us in celebration of John’s life.

  • We will have a visitation with Fern Moreland and their children from 6:30-8:30 PM. on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, at Veranda Senior Living (see address below).
  • The memorial for John Moreland will be on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at 11:00 A.M. at

Boise Church of Christ, 2000 N Eldorado St., Boise, ID 83704.

Lunch and visitation will follow. All are welcome.

Online live-stream and recorded video as well as an online donation page can be found at this link: http://boisecoc.org/john-moreland

In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to the Biblical Studies Center (near Boise State University) or Camp Ivydale in Idaho City. Donations are care of the Boise Church of Christ (find the address and online donation/live stream link above).

Mail cards to Fern and the family at her home at Veranda Senior Living.

Fern Moreland

6280 N Fox Run Way, Room 212

Meridian, ID 83646.