John Paul Marchand

John Paul Marchand, age 67, Breckenridge, MN, left his earthly body and entered the heavenly Father’s presence on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at his home surrounded by his wife and family and under the care of CHI Hospice. Enjoying eternal peacefulness, he is free from the battle with leukemia. A gathering of family and friends will be held Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 5 PM and followed by a time of memory sharing at 7 PM at Harvest Outreach Church, Wahpeton, ND. A Homegoing Celebration will be held Friday, November 8, 2024, at 11 AM at Harvest Outreach Church with Pastor Dominick Warne officiating. A visitation time will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be later at Fargo National Cemetery, Harwood, ND.

John, also known as Jack, was born June 23, 1957, in St. Paul, MN to Ovella Joe and Sylvia Alice (Stevens) Marchand. Growing up in St. Paul, MN and Moorhead, MN with his eleven siblings, John recalled their family reunions at the lake and riding in a vehicle their dad remodeled with wooden benches in the back. He also remembered his mother singing as she tackled mounds of laundry and his father working three jobs to feed them all. Just days before John’s high school graduation from Moorhead High in 1976, he accepted the Lord Jesus as his Savior and began a new life in Christ. This decision started many years of ministry. Since much of his ministry service was volunteer, to pay the bills he worked as a custodian for 35 years with various employers, mostly in Fargo, ND. However, his passion was ministry because he wanted others to know his Savior.

In Fargo in the 1980s, John was involved in a singing ministry, the Cornerstone Coffeehouse, and a drama ministry, where he met Lori Ann (Pfeffer) Marchand in 1988; they married eight months later at Bonanzaville, USA in West Fargo. Moving to Upland, CA, John and Lori served as elderly caregivers where their first child and only daughter, John’s beautiful little girl, Rachel, was born. After relocating to Mayville, ND, they trained as ministers in the Assembly of God fellowship. During this time, their second child, who they lovingly named Joel, their “buddy-bink,” joined the family. Luke arrived on the scene when they pastored in Nielsville, MN. They also pastored in Cherokee, IA. While there, Micah, John’s quiet, gentle son, made his appearance. After moving back to Fargo, ND, John served as the Cass County jail chaplain. There Aaron, their last child, completed the family. As the children grew, they ministered as a family. One highlight was the year they all lived in a motorhome traveling the U.S. to minister in disaster relief and camp work. John reflected, “The kids all dug in and joined the work.” In recent years John and Lori served with Rural Compassion as missionary chaplains in U.S. rural communities. They loved encouraging rural folks at church camps, pastors’ meetings, and in communities in 31 different states. John served in this ministry until his homegoing to heaven.

John’s first love was his Savior, but his family was a close second. He cherished memories with Lori, recalling their awe at the Grand Canyon, hiking a short but challenging trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains, exploring local state parks, and gazing from a lookout on Lori as she climbed over rocks and logs on the Oregon coast. Family Camp was the annual vacation for John, Lori and the kids. Luke recalls driving the night watch golf cart with his dad and venturing into the shadowy forest looking for troublemakers. For the children’s homeschool physical education, John brought them to his school where he was a custodian. One time Aaron’s siblings pushed Aaron in a wheeled basket, sending him into a wall and chipping a front tooth. In the evenings, John enjoyed praying with each of his children and sharing stories, including the time he crashed his bike into a parked car. He flew through the air, hit the car's fin, and landed on a neighbor's lawn, blood gushing. She scolded him for damaging her car and insisted he get off her lawn!

Beyond ministry and family, John’s legacy includes his hobbies and amusing sayings. He enjoyed car shows and woodworking, even crafting his urn with oak from Lori’s parents’ former home. He will also be remembered for his sayings like “Oh no, a barking spider!” when he farted and "Oh, go lay down by your dish," to anyone who was whining.

John is survived by his wife, Lori, who is grateful for sharing his life for 36 years; children Rachel Marchand, Joel Marchand, Luke Marchand, Micah (Kaitlyn) Marchand, and Aaron (Madeleine) Marchand; brothers Jim (Arlene) Marchand, Dave (Pat) Marchand, Ron Marchand, Phil (Gail) Marchand, Steve Marchand, Chuck (Naomi) Marchand; sisters Sandy (Bob) Barranger, Bonnie (Greg) Brown, and Mary (Bruce) Halstad. 

Welcoming him home are his parents Ovella Joe and Sylvia Marchand; brothers Mike Marchand, Bernie Marchand; sister Susan Marchand; and sister-in-law Mary Anne Marchand.

For those interested in memorials: Marchand’s Ministry (https://giving.ag.org/donate/700001-254177?fundid=90507), Rural Compassion (https://www.ruralcompassion.org/give), and T-PLL research (https://engage.utoronto.ca/site/SPageServer?pagename=donate#/fund/1684).

 Arrangements have been entrusted to Joseph Vertin and Sons Funeral Home, Breckenridge, MN.