John Z. McFarland, IV (March 1, 1939—December 29, 2019)
John was born in Lansdale, Pennsylvania in 1939. His family lived in various locations across the country, moving often because his father was in the military. Some of us learned from conversations that John, age 2, and members of his family were living in Honolulu on December 7, 1941, and survived the bombing of Pearl Harbor. John was an Eagle Scout and graduated from high school in Shreveport, Louisiana before coming to Grinnell for his undergraduate work.
John was a resident of Gates Hall for all his four years, 1957-1961, including his service as its president our last year, and hence on the Council of House Presidents. He also was on the Board of Publications and was awarded a freshman numeral for being on the wrestling team. He obtained his B.A. in Chemistry-Zoology in June 1961.
On August 28, 1961, John married Jonnene I. Dunlop ’63 and they had three daughters, Jennifer, Jeanne, and Janet.
John’s education continued that fall at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, where he received his M.D. degree. Fellow Grinnell classmate and Gates Hall resident, Joel Goldstein ’61, and wife Marcia fondly recall visiting John and Jonnene in April 1964 and being shown some New Orleans sights followed by a delicious crawfish dinner at their apartment. The next year John received an award from the city’s mayor for his disaster work after Hurricane Betsy.
John subsequently joined the Public Health Service and completed a radiology residency at the Tulane University School of Medicine followed by service at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. His professional career included working as a radiologist in Clemson, South Carolina and various cities in the western U.S., including Pueblo, CO; Colorado Springs, CO; Albuquerque, NM; and Reno, NV. After John and Jonnene divorced, he married Sherri Oldham in 1983. They retired to Moran, WY near Jackson Hole where they built a home.
John inspired in others a love of travel, good food, nature, and national parks. He enjoyed sailing, fishing, skiing, camping, canoeing, snowmobiling, and hiking. He was always up for an adventure and despite traveling throughout the world after his retirement, he always looked forward to returning to his beloved home near Jackson Hole. John is survived by wife Sherri, daughters Jennifer (Andy) Whisman, Jeanne (Steven) McDonald, and Janet (Cory) Burlile; stepsons Eric Holst and Paul (Christine) Holst; sister Marjorie H. McFarland ’63; and eleven grandchildren.
Duane W. Krohnke
