OBITUARY  |||  DEATH NOTICE

Pastor Robert Lee (Bob) Morlan—born on August 15, 1944, in Mt. Vernon, IL. Went home to be with the Lord in Apache Junction, AZ, on January 27, 2022, with his wife, Jann, and son, John, at his side. Bob was a 1962 graduate of Salem Community High School. Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Army and served honorably in the Signal Corp. On December 10, 1966, he married Janice Marie Watson of New Lenox, IL. They were blessed with adopting two children: Susan Marie and John William.

In his early thirties, Bob found Jesus Christ in an unexpected and powerful way—though he had been an atheist up to that point in his life. (The details of his life and this experience are found in his book, The Atheism that Saved Me.) Following Jesus led him to pursue pastoral ministry by attending both Southwest Baptist College (Bolivar, MO—Bachelors) and Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA—Masters). Serving in multiple churches in his early ministry, Bob ultimately planted Grace Fellowship Church (Mokena, IL) where he served faithfully as a pastor for nearly a quarter century. In his final chapter of ministry, he and Jann moved to Arizona where he served as a chaplain—pastoring souls until the day God brought him home to Heaven.

He is survived by his wife, Janice; daughter, Susan Marie Lowe with husband, Steve; son, Pastor John William Morlan with wife, Julie; grandchildren, Alicia Lowe, John Morlan, Jr., Cameron Morlan, Eliana Morlan, and Caleb Morlan.  Siblings are Carolyn Sledge, Brenda Stewart, Ed Morlan with wife, Lesa, Toni Crowder with husband, Mario—all of Mt Vernon, IL; Richard Morlan with wife, Karen of Bourbonnais, IL; Sheila Burgess with husband, Stanley, and Lydia Horton—all of Salem, IL; along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Earl Morlan; his mother Elsie Delehanty; sisters, Peggy Hayes and Judith Chrum; brother, David Morlan; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ray and Irene Watson.

Robert Lee Morlan was a good and faithful servant of the Lord and His Church and will be dearly missed until we meet again.

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Funeral arrangements include a Visitation (February 6—4:00-7:00pm) and Celebration of Life service (February 7—10:00am)—both to be held at Grace Fellowship Church (Mokena, IL). He will be interred with military honors at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (Elwood, IL) on February 7—12:30pm.