Jack Donald Blodgett

1930 ~ 2018

Jack Donald Blodgett, our beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away peacefully on Monday, May 7, 2018, at his home in Sandy Utah. He was surrounded by his loving family. Dad waited until everyone arrived, including his ‘straight-from-the-airport' returned missionary son and daughter-in-law, before he continued his eternal journey.

Jack was born November 18, 1930, the youngest of eight children, in Salt Lake City, Utah to William Lyman Blodgett and Ona Eva Dye. He was preceded in death by his parents and all his siblings. He was proud of his pioneer heritage and loved to tell of his mother's conversion to the gospel as a young teenager in Hamilton, Montana. Jack grew up in Salt Lake and graduated from South High School. Always a standout athlete, he played basketball, football and baseball. Once his own playing days were over, he loved watching athletics. He was most proud when his children competed, attending their games even after they became adults. An avid Utah Jazz fan, he enjoyed watching the games even up to the night before he passed. His pride in his family's accomplishments went beyond sports into everything they did. He was always pleased and eager to share with others what was happening in his family's lives.

In his teenage years, Jack worked in Star Valley, Wyoming as a farm hand during the summers. This ignited a true love of that area of the country and all that came with it, including horses, which continued throughout his life. His favorite trips were visiting Yellowstone and the Tetons. His talent as an artist was obvious even as a young man, evidenced by some of his early oil paintings. Later in his life he expanded into pen and pencil sketches, most of the time drawing wildlife, rivers and mountains from his beloved Yellowstone and Teton area. He could create an amazing sketch in just minutes on just about anything, including place mats, napkins, or whatever paper he could find.

In high school, through his older sister Dot, Jack met JoAn Pritchett. After graduation they were married August 10, 1949 in the Salt Lake Temple. They spent almost 62 years together in mortality before JoAn was called home in 2011. Together with JoAn, Jack raised nine children, including three who preceded him in death, Jack, Jim and our sweet Nancy. When Nancy was just four months old, her heart stopped for a time which resulted in severe brain damage. It was Dad who, together with mom, taught us all an eternal perspective, through what others might have seen as a tragedy, about the celestial nature of Nancy. His love and kindness for her left an indelible impression on everyone who ever met her or even heard her story. Making her comfortable was always his priority. We can only imagine how sweet that reunion has been. Jack and JoAn's nine children have blossomed into a posterity of well over 150 and continues to grow.

As a young man, he worked for Lynn Wilson Foods in their early days, a job he continually talked about for the rest of his life. He worked in the grocery business for his brother Bill. He also worked for the Deseret News Press, learning the printing business inside and out, eventually becoming the manager of sales. Jack was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His testimony was rock solid, and despite challenges such as losing three children, a grandson, and his wife, as well as many serious personal health issues, his faith never wavered. Dad had a special relationship with his Heavenly Father. Many times, throughout his life, including during his last days, he received immediate divine assistance because of his great faith. As he liked to say, he was tutored at the feet of prophets. While working at the Deseret News Press he worked with President Thomas S. Monson before his calling as an apostle. Both were young men. This began a deep friendship that lasted throughout their lives. During that time, dad had many opportunities to work with prophets, apostles and other church leaders on various printing projects. He also served on the Young Men's General Board, often accompanying these great leaders to conference assignments where he was taught by precept and example. This instilled in him a love for the gospel, the church and the leaders of the church that never faltered. He passed that legacy of faith on to his entire posterity. He served in many church callings, including many bishoprics, high councils, teaching assignments, and as a bishop in the University of Utah YSA stake. He was beloved by those young people as he had a wonderful sense of humor and a strong testimony- a good combination that served him well in that assignment. Dad made us all laugh with his quick wit, including the funny nicknames he would give us, his singing opera in made-up Italian (he had an incredible voice), or the telling and re-telling of funny stories from his life. Dad loved everyone but had a special spot in his heart for babies. He could not pass a little baby without stopping to say hi. With his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, dad always had a special way with babies. He would always comment on how special they were because they were ‘fresh from heaven'. He passed on that love of babies to all his sons and grandsons. Dad left his job at the Deseret News Press in 1970 to join JoAn in the family business she had started a couple of years earlier. Dad's incredible organizational skills, strong worth ethic, and natural sales ability allowed the business to continue to grow and thrive. Together with mom, they built the family business into one of the most successful data entry and computer service businesses in the country. Dad and Mom taught their family how to work, and how to enjoy work. The legacy of "Mr. and Mrs. B." lives on in their children and grandchildren, as well as the countless workers they tutored and taught. We will miss dad but find great comfort in the many reunions that have taken place in the spirit world. We express a special thanks to our sisters JoAnne and Jill, and our brother Lynn, who have taken such amazing care of dad during these last few years. Theirs has been a labor of love for which he and we will be forever grateful.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in the Crescent 18th Ward Chapel, 2195 E Pepperwood Drive (approx. 10800 South), Sandy, Utah 84092. Friends and family may call at the church prior to the services between 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. Burial will be next to his eternal companion and close to his sweet Nancy and son Jim in the Holladay Cemetery. Funeral directors Larkin Sunset Gardens. Online condolences: www.larkincares.com.