Joanne Widtsoe Wallace Koplin

1928 ~ 2018

Joanne Widtsoe Wallace Koplin, 89, passed away after a short illness on 5 February 2018, surrounded by her beloved family. She was born 10 October 1928 to Anna Gaarden Widtsoe and Lewis Joseph Wallace. She attended Stewart School on the U of U campus, Bryant Jr. High and East High School. She then went on to the University of Utah where she graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. While there, she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega. The day after graduation she married the love of her life, Richard Moore Koplin, on 11 June 1951 in the Salt Lake Temple.

She taught kindergarten and 1st grade for 11 years at East Millcreek Elementary and at BYU for 21 years influencing countless lives, retiring as an Assistant Professor in Elementary Education.

She was an active member of the LDS Church, serving in almost every capacity on a Ward and Stake level. She also served many years as an Ordinance Worker in the Salt Lake Temple and for 10 years as a hostess at the Conference Center making many wonderful friends.

She was actively involved with the DUP and the Brigham Young Granddaughters Association. She also was a part of several other fun groups with many cherished friends.

She and her husband Dick travelled the world, visiting nearly every continent and many countries. She had the gift of making friends wherever she went and making them feel loved.

Family was everything to her! She devoted every ounce of her heart to making them feel loved, cherished and connected. Preceded in death by her husband and one sister, Peggy. She is survived by her 2 children, Kari (Mark) Robinson and Richard Widtsoe (Charlene) Koplin; 10 grandchildren who adored her, Brittany (Nate), Kristen (Court), Stacey (Sean), Amy (Nate), Alisa (Tom), Darin (Craig), Eric (Amanda), Michael (Amy), Stephen and Linsey; and 24 great-grandchildren who are blessed to have known her. She is also survived by 2 brothers, John (Liza) and Robert (Claudia); 2 sisters, Sharon (Gordon, deceased) and Linda (Fred); one sister-in-law Kathryn; 2 brothers-in-law, Jack and Bill; and many nieces and nephews who loved and were loved by her.

In lieu of flowers (even though she loved them), feel free to donate to Shriners Hospital for Children, as she loved how they serve her family and the community.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 11:00 a.m., at the LDS Ward, 1565 S. Foothill Dr., Salt Lake City. Friends and family may visit Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South, and Saturday morning from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to services at the Ward.