Marvin M. John Sept. 30, 1924-July 19, 2013

Marvin M. John, M.D., died on July 19, 2013 at his home in Umatilla at the age of 88.

He was born the second child of Lorenz L. John and Marie L. Doehrman John on Sept. 30, 1924 in Natoma, Kan.

During the dust bowl years, when life in Kansas was hard, Lorenz John looked for a fresh opportunity, and the family moved to Idaho, eventually settling in Nampa. Marvin grew up with five siblings – two brothers and three sisters. He graduated from Nampa High School in 1942. Marvin entered the military in 1944. He was assigned to the medical corps of the army, probably because he had spent time working as an orderly at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise, Idaho after high school graduation. Marvin was first a surgical technician at Fitzsimmons General Hospital. He later served overseas in the CBI Theater, where he was assigned to the 76th Field Hospital and the 134th General Hospital in Shanghai, China. Marvin was honorably discharged from the United States Army and then continued his education. In 1951 he received a B.S. degree from the University of Oregon.

Marvin married Evangeline Moshofsky in 1951 and to this union were born four children: David, Carollyn, Peter, and Paul. In 1954 , he graduated from the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, and had a rotating internship at St. Vincent Hospital until 1955. During his years in medical school he earned money by working in the pathology lab, where part of his duties consisted of doing autopsies in various mortuaries throughout the city of Portland.

Marvin had a solo family practice in Umatilla from 1955 until 1988. Marvin worked at St. Anthony Umatilla Clinic from May 1988 to June 1991, and at St. Anthony Hermiston Clinic from June 1991 until January 1992 and then at the Hermiston Community Health Clinic from February 1992 until February 1999. He served as the Vange John Hospice Medical Director from November of 1987 until June of 2013.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Vange, in 1986. In 1991, Marvin married Rosaline Reitz Knerr, which added four stepchildren to the family: Timothy, Ruth Marie, Joyce, and Eric.

He was a member of the Oregon Medical Society, American Medical Association, Oregon Academy of Family Practice, and the American Academy of Family Practice.
　
Marvin was involved in many community activities over the years including, Umatilla Lions Club from 1956-1966; Hermiston Community Concert Association, 1957-1993; Umatilla District School Board, 1971-1979; Team Physician Umatilla Schools, 1955-1988; Umatilla District Hospital Board, 1978-1982; Good Shepherd Community Hospital Board, 1983-1989; and the Vange John Memorial Hospice Board, 1987-2013.

He was bestowed with many honors including: Umatilla Citizen of the Year 1973; Oregon Family Practice Physician of the Year 1984; Greater Hermiston Chamber of Commerce – Citizen of the Year 1985; and Dream Team Medical Director of the Year for the Oregon Hospice Association 2009.　
　
Marvin was baptized at St. John Lutheran Church in Natoma, Kan. He was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, Nampa, Idaho. After moving to Umatilla in 1955, Marvin and his family were active members of the Umatilla Community Presbyterian Church. Most recently, Marvin has been a member of Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, Hermiston.
　
He enjoyed clowning, bird watching, traveling, and especially cherished time with his family.
　
Marvin is survived by his wife, Rosaline John; children, David John (Jan), Carollyn Robinson (Jerry), Peter John (Laura Lee), and Paul John (Jennifer); stepchildren Timothy Knerr (Karen), Eric Knerr (Nina), Ruth Marie Baum (Dan), and Joyce Eidem (Shannon); sisters, Mildred Neher and Louise Reynolds; brother, Hugo John; 20 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
　
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife; a brother, Edward, and a sister, Irene.
　
A private family funeral was held at Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church (Faith Presbyterian Church) 1005 SE 9th St., Hermiston. Private burial with military honors followed at the Sunset Hills Cemetery, Umatilla.
　
A public celebration of life service was held on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at the Hermiston Conference Center.

Those who wish may make contributions in Marvin’s memory to Vange John Memorial Hospice, 645 W. Orchard Ave., Hermiston, OR 97838, or Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 1108, Hermiston, OR 97838.

Please sign the condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com
　
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.