Edward J. Moretto, aged 87 years of Ashland, Illinois died Saturday, January 14, 2023, at Memorial Medical Center. He was born November 7, 1935, in Danville, Illinois the son of James and Helen Karushis Moretto. He was a 1953 graduate of Schlarman High School in Danville, Illinois. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving from 1954 to 1958, in the United States, Okinawa, and Newfoundland, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. He also served four more years in the USAF inactive reserve attached to Selfridge AF Base, Michigan under the mandatory eight-year military obligation. He worked in law enforcement in Eastern Illinois at Westville and later at Georgetown, Illinois, where he was appointed Chief of Police in 1972. Mr. Moretto entered the Christian ministry in 1976. He received his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree at the age of 44, with a double-major in Christian Ministries and in Bible, a minor in Languages (Greek and Hebrew) and a minor in Psychology in 1980 from Kentucky Christian University, Grayson, Kentucky, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He earned a Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) degree in 1981, also from Kentucky Christian University. In 1982 he completed a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Church History at Cincinnati Christian University, Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1983, he earned a Master of Higher Education (M.H.Ed.) degree (with a concentration in Philosophy) in Higher Education Administration from Morehead State University, Morehead, Kentucky. In 1986 he completed his doctoral degree qualifying examinations for Doctor of Education (Ed. D.) at the University of Kentucky, Lexington. Mr. Moretto served as an Associate Professor of Church History and Philosophy at Kentucky Christian University. During his academic tenure he preached at churches throughout the tri-State area of Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. In 1985 he returned to Illinois to serve as Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent and later as a Criminal Intelligence Analyst with the Illinois State Police, Springfield, Illinois, retiring in December 2002. From September 27, 1987, to until his death, he served as the minister of Berea Christian Church, Ashland, Illinois, among the people he loved. He was a paid-up-for-life member of the American Legion, George H. Pettit Post 498 of Ashland, Illinois where he served for a time as Historian and later as Chaplain; a member of the Ashland 9/12 Project; and as the disbursement officer for the Ashland/Pleasant Plains Ministerial Association. He was a life member of The Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Nashville, Tennessee. He is survived by his wife (his soul mate), Kara (nee Grewe) Moretto, two daughters, Christina L. (Mike) Lyons of Ironton, Ohio, and his "baby," Amanda Moretto (Hamilton) Rech, of Westminster, Colorado; four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Wilma C. (deceased husband, Richard) Cole and Wanda H. (deceased husband, Ned) McDowell and two sons, James Edward Moretto and John Bernard Moretto. Visitation will be held at Berea Christian Church, south of Ashland, Illinois at 10:00 a.m. with service at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 20, 2023. Members of Berea Christian Church will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Berea Christian Church Building Fund, Ashland VFW Veterans Memorial, or Ashland Volunteer Firefighters EMT. The Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Ashland is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at buchanancody.com Visitation Berea Christian Church Friday, January 20, 2023 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM 2053 State Highway 123 Ashland, IL 62612 Funeral Service Berea Christian Church Friday, January 20, 2023 11:00 AM 2053 State Highway 123 Ashland, IL 62650