Johnathan Moen
Mar 20, 1973 -
Mar 28, 2020
Johnathan Howard Moen, age 47, left this earth unexpectedly to join his Heavenly Father at the end of March 2020. Born on March 20, 1973, in Anchorage, Alaska, John grew up singing in children's choirs at church and loved competing in the 'Pinewood Derby' with the Royal Rangers - his cars often awarded "Best Design." He strived to be a high school basketball star and became quite skilled at the sport. He attended high school at Anchorage Christian Schools and East Anchorage High before beginning a new adventure by joining his mom in a big move to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He then graduated from Coeur d'Alene High School in 1992.
Following in his father's footsteps, he enlisted in the Navy in 1995. His career took him around the world, including tours in Japan, Bahrain, Korea, Greece and Afghanistan, as well as on the heaving decks of ships at sea.
Incredibly curious and smart, John started as a yeoman, serving in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. While stationed in Pearl, he attended Chaminade University, earned his bachelor's degree, and was accepted at Officer Candidate School. Following OCS, he went to Flight school in Pensacola, graduating the day after terrorists struck the Pentagon and twin towers. His initial training was focused on flying fixed wings but eventually led to piloting every type of helicopter the Navy had in its inventory. This was when he became known affectionately as "J-Mo" - call sign, or nickname of sorts - even to many of his close family members. He had a natural affinity for piloting helicopters, and his skills took him to peacetime and wartime assignments around the world. By 2010, he was back in the States as a Safety and Training Officer for Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Two (HSC-2) where he earned the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for exceeding goals in numbers of pilots trained and hours of safe operations.
Following his retirement as a Lieutenant Commander in 2015, he became a contractor for the Army and proudly continued to serve our country as a Telecommunications Specialist for satellite transmissions, based in Colorado Springs, Colo. John was a "plank owner" in the newly created Space Force.
He also met the love of his life while in the Navy, navigator Christa Hawks, and they married in April 2007. Christa resigned her position so she and John could travel together with his assignments. They lived around the country and even spent a year in India while John attended the Naval War College.
To really know John, you had to know his life was a mix of extremes: A quiet kid, he grew up to be the person who lit up the room when he entered. Though afraid of heights, he ultimately chose aviation as his vocation. He received what many would say was a dream assignment - 4 years in Hawaii - yet he longed for snow-filled mountains where he could snowboard.
An adventurer and explorer who traveled the world, he also found solace in staying home and became quite skilled at gourmet cooking and grilling. He enjoyed cheering for his chosen favorite Pittsburgh Steelers or calling friends and family just to stay in touch. You'd know you were at John's house if there was a collection of cars or trucks nearby, or if the conversation drifted to horsepower comparisons, after-market add-ons, or war stories about the coolest, fastest, or most-souped up cars he used to own.
Surviving John are his wife, Christa; parents, Lynn Moen of Coeur d'Alene and Sid Moen (Pam Wyess) of Saline, Mich.; sister, Karen Moen of Henderson, Nev.; parents-in-law, James and Mary Ellen Hawks of Arizona; aunts, Janey Moen (Bill Holmes) and Ann Kathleen Makrynakis (Tony), both of Anchorage; uncles, Bryan Morris (Kristi) of Spokane, Wash., and Alger Morris (Joyce) of Julian, N.C.; and aunts, Patty McMillan (Dean) of Wasilla, Alaska, and Judy Ogar of Spirit Lake, Idaho. In addition, he leaves a host of cousins and extended family, and a worldwide network of friends who were like family to him to cherish his memory. Also surviving are his pet cats, Steeler - after NFL Steelers - and Brownie - after Christa's favored Cleveland Browns. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Howard and Ruth Moen, and Alger and Erma Dean Morris, all of whom we know greeted him at the gates of heaven.
Given the COVID-19 pandemic, the family will have a memorial service later in the year as he is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate honoring John's love for the military with a donation in his memory to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, www.nmcrs.org; or supporting his love for animals by donating to the Humane Society of your choice.
