Reverend John H. Emerson, STH’62
This obituary was originally posted by the Reno Gazette Journal and can be found here.
Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle, The Rev. John Herbert Emerson, at the age of 88 serenely passed from this earthly life on Sunday, October 22nd, 2023 
surrounded by his wife Janice, daughter Julie and longtime friend, Art; and has gone on to new adventures of living in God’s Heavenly Home. John was born in San Jose, California to Herbert Winter and Winnifred Davis Emerson. He attended San Jose schools, including San Jose High School, where he lettered in football and track, and was student body president. In his youth, John was a Boy Scout and was Master Counselor of San Jose Chapter No. 1, Order of DeMolay, that conferred upon him the honorary Chevalier degree. Beginning at age five, he studied piano for ten years, also played clarinet, French horn, and bassoon; and began composing music at age twelve. His sister, Janey, was born when John was thirteen.
John married a high school classmate, Janice Elaine Farr, with whom he shared the co-lead in the musical “Annie Get Your Gun.” They had been married 68 years, and raised three delightful daughters, Joanne (Jody) Call, Julie Kalisiak, and Jerilyn (Jeri) Hadley.
John attended the School of Pharmacy at Washington State University. In his junior year, Emerson experienced God’s call to the ministry through his pastor/father-in-law, The Rev. Dr. J. Wesley Farr, who had baptized John and received him into membership at First United Methodist Church in San Jose. Following graduation, John attended seminary at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA and Boston University School of Theology in Boston, MA. As a student pastor he served churches in Kendrick and Julietta, ID and Bernardston, MA. He pursued post-graduate studies in marriage and family therapy.
Rev. Emerson served churches in California and Nevada, having been the founding pastor of a new church in Sunnyvale, CA. He was senior pastor of First United Methodist Church of Reno and Carson City. In retirement he was interim pastor of the United Methodist churches in Winnemucca, Ely, and McGill. He had been a board member and officer of the Religious Alliance in Nevada, a legislative advocate on behalf of the California-Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church regarding social justice concerns, chair of numerous conference boards, and past president of the Retired Clergy Association of the CA-NV Conference. In retirement, John served as a chaplain for nearly six years for Circle of Life Hospice, Reno.
Rev. Emerson developed a deep concern for social justice; and advocated for improved working and housing conditions for migrant farm workers; supported Caesar Chavez and United Farm Workers; joined in the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery march with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; worked in support of the open housing legislation in CA; and civil rights for the LGBTQ citizens. Former NV Gov. Paul Laxalt had appointed John to two state commissions, and invited him to conduct the memorial service at the state capitol for slain Martin Luther King, Jr.
Rev. John Emerson composed many pieces of music, and published many articles, poetry, and books. But, he would tell you, his greatest accomplishment and joy was his marriage and family, as well as time with friends. Humor and laughter helped John survive adversities in his life and appreciate the good times. World travel, hiking mountain trails, and skiing rounded out an active life.
He is survived by his wife Janice of Sparks, NV; daughters Jody Call (David) of Washoe Valley, NV; Julie Kalisiak of Sparks, NV; and Jeri Hadley (Rob) of Abilene, TX; sister Janey Baker (Jim) of Hillsboro, OR; and seven grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren plus numerous nephews and nieces in the USA and Germany.
The celebration of life will be held at Reno’s First United Methodist Church on Friday, November 17th at 1pm, followed by a reception.
Memorial gifts may be made to the First United Methodist Church Foundation of Reno, 209 W. 1st St, Reno, NV 89501, Circle of Life Hospice of Reno, 1575 Delucchi Lane, Suite 214 Reno, Nevada 89502, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, 550 Italy Drive, Sparks, NV 89437, or Amnesty International (www.amnesty.org)
Zoom and Facebook live will be available.