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John Edward Roland passed away on Jan. 1, 2026. A funeral service will be held on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, at Hope Lutheran Church in Powell, Wyoming. The service will begin at 2 p.m., followed by a graveside service where full military honors will be presented. The service will also be streamed online via Facebook at facebook.com/events/1531510128156433.
John was born on Jan. 16, 1933, to Joseph Roland (Poletto) and Catherine Söhl. He was preceded in death by his four brothers, Pepper (Joseph), Charlie, William, and Richard Roland, and by his beloved wife of 57 years, Doris Maxine Roland (Bray).
At the age of 17, John enlisted in the United States Navy and served honorably aboard the USS Wright. In recognition of his service, he received the National Defense Service Medal and was honorably discharged in 1953. After his discharge, John pursued higher education at several institutions, including the University of Louisiana, the University of Washington, and the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, where he earned a master’s degree in library sciences. It was there that he met Doris, who he married after they knew each other for only 17 days, a decision that reflected his lifelong belief in living fully and in the present moment.
After they were married, John and Doris taught in multiple states, including Maine, Louisiana, New Mexico and Alaska, where they worked with Inuit children. They later settled in Bozeman, Montana, where John served as an assistant librarian at Montana State University and where their first daughter, Rebecca, was born. The family later moved to Powell, Wyoming, where John accepted a position as librarian at Northwest Community College. Their second daughter, Ramona, was born in Powell in 1970. John was a faculty member at Northwest Community College until his retirement. John remained in Powell until Doris’s passing in 2017.
John was an avid outdoorsman and spent much of his life exploring the wilderness surrounding Powell. He often told his daughters that he and Doris chose Powell because a 45-minute drive in any direction placed him deep in the mountains. John began fly fishing at age 13 and continued well into his 70s. He also enjoyed birdwatching and spent many years pursuing this passion. He raised his children with a deep appreciation for the outdoors and took them backpacking, hiking, camping and canoeing.
John is survived by his daughters, Rebecca Roland and husband Andrew Bunning, and Ramona Header (Roland) and her husband Scott Haeder, and by his grandson, Eli.
