John Moreland
ERIE, Kan. — John A. Moreland, 78, of Erie, Kan., died at 6:36 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, at his home.
He was born March 22, 1933, in Ramsey, Ill., the son of Bon S. and Effie (Hill) Moreland. He married Julie Cassidy on Aug. 1, 1954, and they divorced. He married Carol Husser on Jan. 26, 1957, and they divorced. He married Mary Ann Winters on June 8, 1969, in Thorton, Colorado. She survives.
He attended schools in Tiskilwa. He served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant during the Korean Conflict. He received a Bronze Star, two Purple Heart citations, a Good Conduct Medal and the Korean Citation with three stars before his honorable discharge on Aug. 23, 1953. He lived in Brighton, Colo., and West Virginia where he worked as an automobile salesman and a truck driver. He was the pit manager at the Colorado National Speedway in the Denver/Erie, Colo., area for several years.
He was a member of George L. Hendricks Post No. 102, American Legion and the former VFW, both of Erie, Kan.
Also surviving are one son, John A. “John John” (Erin) Moreland Jr. of Brighton, Colo.; four daughters, Janice (Larry) Magnuson of Tiskilwa, Connie (Scott) Westberg of Ballwin, Mo., Rhonda (Ron) Knodel of Brighton, Colo., and Leigh Ann (Bobby) Spilman of Erie, Kan.; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four brothers, Donald “Pete” Moreland, William “Bill” (Onida) Moreland, Claude (Eloise) Moreland and Everett (Mary Jo) Moreland, all of Illinois; and one sister, Gertie (Gerlad) Spires of Illinois.
He was preceded in death by one grandson, Avery Westberg; one sister, Gevena Hicks; one brother, Bob Moreland; and an infant brother.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Temple Baptist Church in Erie, Kan., with the Rev. Jerry M. Ellard officiating. Military honors will be given by George L. Hendricks Post No. 102, American Legion of Erie. Cremation will follow the services.
Visitation will be from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Erie.
Memorials may be directed to the John A. Moreland Memorial Fund, in care of the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, 303 N Grant St., Erie, KS 66733.
