JOHN RIGGLE ACKLAND

September 3, 1941 - January 17, 2021

John Riggle Ackland was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend. He passed away peacefully in Memorial Hospital in Bakersfield, CA on Sunday, January 17, 2021 at the age of 79.

John was born to Merritt and Velma Ackland on September 3, 1941 in Mt. Vernon, IL. After graduating from high school, he backpacked around Europe and New Zealand and then attended and graduated from Hanover College in Indiana. He moved out to California for a teaching job in South Central Los Angeles at Fremont High School. While teaching in Southern California, he met Diane, his wife of 53 years. After they got married, they both attended Humboldt State University and got their Master's Degrees. He then taught at Bakersfield College as a Professor in Anatomy, Physiology, and Zoology. John was the Chairman of the Biology Department in 1971 and stayed until his retirement in 2006. He worked closely with the Nursing Department, nurturing a cooperative tie between the two programs. As a result, there is a generation of BC nurses in the community who fondly remember their classes with Professor Ackland. In 1998 he received the Bakersfield College Innovator of the Year Award. He said many times that he was truly blessed to have had a job that he enjoyed so much.

John enjoyed spending his free time tending to his orchard and loved anything and everything John Deere. So much so, that he purchased a farm sized John Deere tractor for his acre lot. He also liked to spend many hours working with tools in what his friends called his Taj MaJohn since his shop was so large. John was deeply religious and was a very active member of the First United Methodist Church. He loved telling jokes as much as he loved hearing them and had the greatest belly laugh that was infectious. He was a stranger to no one and could strike up a conversation with anyone he met. The only other thing he loved more than teaching was his love for his wife Diane. They were true partners in life and had many great years together. He cherished his time he spent with his family members and friends.

John is survived by his wife Diane Ackland, children Patricia Rhee and Michael Ackland, sisters Barbara Cade (Hot Springs, AR) and Sharon Miller (Henderson, NV).

A Memorial service is scheduled for 1:00pm on Saturday, January 23, 2021 and can be attended via live stream on the First UMC Bakersfield YouTube Channel. Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMyfH3m79-e4fx5gxOqBpfw

Audio Only Number: 661-215-0840

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the John Ackland Memorial Scholarship at Bakersfield College, Riggle, Hinds, Ackland Endowed Scholarship at Hanover College, Habitat for Humanity, or First United Methodist Church of Bakerfield.