John Mark Rose

John Mark Rose, 88 years old, of Salt Lake City, Utah, passed away on April 16, 2026 surrounded by loved ones past and present.

Mark was born on March 31, 1938 in Murray, Utah to Paul Sherman Rose and Katherine Francis Hopkin. He grew up in Murray with his two sisters, Carolyn Bowlden and Kathy Rogers, amid colorful, funny childhood friends. A gifted athlete, Mark graduated from Murray High School where he starred on the football, basketball and baseball teams, winning the state football championship in 1955. Mark matriculated at the University of Utah where he played basketball under Jack Gardner and became a lifelong Ute! He cut short his basketball career to serve two and a half years in the Swiss Austrian Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. There he developed a lifelong love for the Swiss, his fellow missionaries, and the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Upon returning to the University of Utah, Mark studied English. There he was struck by a vivacious, young English student who sat on the front row with her hand perpetually raised to answer every question. Mark married Josephine A. Freed on July 27, 1961 and they were sealed in the Logan Temple on July 28, 1961. Mark embraced his new in-laws and treasured all their associated relationships throughout his life. Mark left his studies in the third year of law school to pursue a career in business; first working at Dahnken’s Merchandising in Southern California. Mark and Jo loved the warm weather, bougainvillea and enduring friends they made in Studio City. However, Mark yearned for Utah’s mountains, the Utes, and family and moved back to Salt Lake City for good in 1974.

Mark’s passion for travel led Jo and Mark to purchase and expand Beehive Travel where Jo flourished and was named Utah Business Woman of the Year. Mark and Jo later became founding distributors of Morinda. Mark and Jo were immensely grateful for the partners and employees they had in their businesses. Mark’s career in business, like his life, was most focused on the enduring friendships he developed and maintained.

During their marriage Jo and Mark welcomed four children into their home: Elizabeth E.R. (Tom) Loveridge (both deceased), David P. (Lisa) Rose, Mark E. (Susan) Rose and Kristin E.R. (Alec) McGinn. Mark and Jo shared a love for good conversation, stimulating books, their seventeen grandchildren, and as of Mark’s passing five great grandchildren, to whom they would answer under the names of “The Doc” and “Bobi.”

Mark loved people and people loved him. He was a master storyteller with a love for laughter. He attracted like-minded friends and together they enriched our lives with great moments and hilarious stories. These were dedicated and enduring friendships. Mark lived on the same street for over 50 years. He cultivated many deep friendships with his neighbors and ward members. Mark served in quorum presidencies, bishoprics and stake presidencies of the Church. He loved offering that service, and he was served in return. We would particularly like to thank David Hamblin, Dick Hinckley and Lee Barnes for their selfless friendship through Mark’s Alzheimer’s disease.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00PM on Friday, April 24, 2026 at the Federal Heights Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1300 E Fairfax Rd, Salt Lake City, Utah. A viewing will be held the evening prior from 6:00-8:00PM at the Federal Heights Ward and the morning of the funeral service from 10:00-11:30AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the charitable organization “No Poor Africa” dedicated to providing educational opportunities for young women in Africa: www.nopoorafrica.org

The family wishes to thank Mark’s caregivers Kristin and Alec McGinn, Marcela Burgos, and the support team at The Auberge at Aspen Park, the countless others who have shared Mark’s life journey, and our amazing Savior for his gift of reuniting Mark once more with Mark’s beloved Jo.

To watch the funeral services remotely via Zoom please click the blue "Watch Services" button at the top of the obituary or the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81643811251