Joseph Lynn Lyon M.D.

1939 ~ 2021

Obituary Photo for Joseph Lynn Lyon M.D. < >

Viewing:

Sept. 24, 2021
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South
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  • Service:

    Sept. 25, 2021
    12:00 PM
    Yalecrest 1st Ward, 1035 South 1800 East, Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Directions to Service
  • I was born of goodly parents on Saturday night, May 13th, 1939 10 minutes after my brother, making me the last of the six sons of Thomas Edgar and Hermana Forsberg Lyon. I grew up in rural East Mill Creek before suburbia encroached, as my city born parents learned to farm. I had a personal association with many weeds, plus apple, cherry and apricot trees, raspberries, peas, corn, strawberries, cows, pigs, chickens and a large St. Bernard dog, and thrived on fresh cow’s milk, home grown chicken eggs, and the fruit and vegetables we grew.

    I had two of the most wonderful parents in the world who provided me with a foundation of love and support that has blessed my life ever since. I have also had a close and loving relationship all these years with my five older brothers who have each enriched my life.

    I managed to make it through the Sherman school, Olympus Junior High School and graduated from Olympus High School in 1957 where I was the starting left tackle on the football team. We finished the season with an unremarkable four wins and two loses, but beat our arch rival Granite High (despite the best efforts of their coach, LaVell Edwards before his BYU glory days.

    I served six months in the U.S. Army at Fort Ord, Ft. Chaffee and Ft Carson, and then began the University of Utah. My older brother James encouraged me to write for the student newspaper, The Utah Daily Chronicle, and by some accident I became the news editor, reported on the arrest of the mayor’s son who caused a riot on Fraternity row over a parking ticket, and also got the president of the student senate impeached to spice up a slow news day.

    I accepted a call to service in the New Zealand North mission in 1959 and spent two years in that beautiful, and rainy place growing to love the Polynesian people. I circled the globe, mostly by boat, to get home from New Zealand. Upon returning I decided try and become a physician rather than a historian like my father.

    During the winter quarter 1962 in an LDS Institute class, I was attracted to a young woman, Juneil Fetzer, because of her sweet smile and beautiful eyes, but the attraction grew into love when I discovered she had taken the pre-med physics and chemistry classes I would face the coming fall, and kept all of her notes and tests. I credit her help with getting me into medical school. We were married on July 31, 1964 in the Salt Lake Temple, and have been lovers, companions, and friends ever since. We had six children, Natalee, Joseph, Stephen, Maryanne, Rachael, and Janet and marvel at how different they each are, but love each of them and wish we had had the energy to have a few more.

    Because I wanted them to know how to do difficult things, I started each one of them backpacking into the Uintah’s at age five. We had wonderful times together as my children learn many things such as the magic of Jolly Rancher candy to go another 200 yards during the difficult parts of the hike.

    In a major failing of the admissions process I was admitted to medical school at the University of Utah and graduated in 1967. I spent two of the summers during medical school working as a researcher and extern for Dr. Russell M. Nelson, and it was his example that inspired me to try to become surgeon, but after a year of surgery residency in San Diego I gave it up for epidemiology/public health at Harvard.

    We returned to Utah from Boston in October 1970 and have been here ever since, something that neither Juneil or I planned or wished, but the Lord was quite clear about His plans for us. I first worked for the Neighborhood Health Center, driven by my idealism and concern for the poor, and watched it suffer the fate of most government programs for the poor, being taken over by the middle class.

    In February 1974 I joined the faculty of School of Medicine where I have worked ever since, and somehow became a tenured professor, the hallmark of the parasite on society. I have taught epidemiology for 40 years to the willing and the unwilling, and am noted for having introduced selected clips from Monty Python into my lectures. On a more serious note, I also documented many of health differences between Mormons and non-Mormons, and stumbled on and documented the harmful effects of radiation from above ground nuclear testing on the citizens of Utah. It was an unanticipated finding but set the path of much my professional career finally resulting in the passage of legislation granting compensation to many in southern Utah.

    The LDS church has been the central focus of much of my life as it was of my parents, grandparents and great grandparents. I achieved the LDS equivalent of Nirvana, becoming a Gospel Doctrine teacher for the first time in 1965, and being blessed with that calling many more times, the last in 2009. I also served on the High Councils of the Boston and University 1st Stake and as the branch president of the University 19th Branch, a married student branch located in University Village.

    The Church provides us many unusual opportunities such as weeding and sorting the onion crop on our stake farm with my wife and children, next to the world-famous chemist Henry Eyring. One of my most memorable Church assignments was as the designated human pack horse hauling food and games for three Bonneville Stake Young Women’s rough camps that my wife led into the High Uintah Wilderness Area. When I retired from the University of Utah I served as a Church Service missionary with the good folks of the Church’s Neonatal Resuscitation program. My wife and I have served in the Salt Lake Temple as “Saturday’s Warriors” since March 2005. That experience allowed us to associate with some the best people in the best place in the world. Another sweet experience has been the opportunity to return New Zealand and renew friendships with those I first met in 1959-1961.

    I have been blessed by the Good Lord in more ways than I can count, and have now begun another great adventure. I look forward to being reunited with my parents and brothers, and finally discovering the answers to such cosmic questions as what Isaiah meant and where did the mate to my socks go when I put them in the laundry.

    I am survived by my wife of 57 years Juneil; our six children Natalee Lyon, Joe (Rachel Crook), Stephen (Jan Martini), Maryanne, Rachael (Chris Wheelwright), and Janet (Stephen Elison); our 22 many wonderful grandchildren; and my dear brothers Jamie (Dorothy) and twin Ted (Cheryl). Preceded in death by his parents T. Edgar and Hermana; his brothers David, John, and Laurie; and granddaughter Isabelle.

    A viewing will be held, Friday, September 24, 2021, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South in Salt Lake City. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 25, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. at the Yalecrest 1st Ward, 1035 South 1800 East. Family and friends may call upon the family from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 South Highland Drive in Millcreek. For those who were unable to attend the services in person, you can watch the recorded service at the following link https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/LqAoUHTY4wTP744BO1WIE3nozTasBa9JJ-RyfTnsSKDjJLw8LYGdaPJBW3ntGaOf.KX4RaSquvGsG3Cz7?startTime=1632590793000.

    In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Church of Jesus Christ Humanitarian Aid Fund:
    https://donate.churchofjesuschrist.org/donations/church/humanitarian-services/humanitarian-aid-fund?cde2=475-home&lang=eng
    Donations may also be made to the Lyon Research Endowment in Public Health:
    https://ugive.app.utah.edu/designation/430?specialInstructions=Lyon%20Research%20Endowment%20in%20Public%20Health%20(MD14032-40165)


    Guestbook/Condolences

    Lynn was on the same shift at the family history library with me and several others. All of us on our shift loved him as part of our little Wednesday evening family. When Covid struck we continued to have Zoom meetings. We all had nicknames which I gave our group, and he was “The Master of Arms.” Lynn was brilliant and had mastered a number of subjects, including but not limited to history, firearms, medicine, and really any subject we discussed. He even authored an article to show that John Taylor’s watch did not save him from a fatal musket ball, but rather that it had suffered a collision with some surface that caused it to be dented and stop running. He was an expert on indexing. He was an expert on so many subjects. I mourn his passing and our family history library shift will be sad without his cheery and affable self. He was a tireless worker in the temple and an example to us in his love and service to his beloved Juneil. His legacy is one of inspiring love, service and devotion to the restored gospel and others. He leaves a gap in our lives that cannot be filled, but I am sure his many talents will be put to good use on his new mission in the world of spirits. We will miss you Lynn! I am sure your family will too. We will meet again.


    - Larry White

    Our deepest feelings of sympathy for Juneil and family.


    - Jim and Peggy Parry

    Not only are Lynn and I first cousins, born 3 months apart, but spent time at Fort Douglas in the Reserves together, and a short time at the "U" together. What great times our families also had joining together on many a fun occasion. Very sad to see him leave us but extremely happy to know of all those who have welcomed him on the other side, including his aunt and uncle and my parents Francis and Leola Forsberg.
    Our hearts join you, Jamie and Ted, at your loss and ask the Lord to bless you and your families with comfort and peace. We love ya Lynn, Jamie, and Ted. Till we meet again, your Cousin, Robert Forsberg, & wife Meryl Lynn.


    - Robert & MerylLynn Forsberg

    My thoughts and love with the whole family at this time. I am happy I met him and stayed in his home ..a wonderful man husband and father
    Love Marcie


    - Marcella Stamataros

    Dear Juneil and family,
    We were shocked to learn of Lynn's passing and our hearts go out to you and your family at this time. You have our love and prayers. We admired and warmed to Lynn in our associations with him and you in the temple and so enjoyed listening to his stories and learning the wisdom included with them. His devotion to the Lord and the gospel was/is exemplary to us all. Such a good man. We feel blessed to have known and associated with him and you during those beautiful years of service together. You richly enhanced our lives.
    With love and gratitude,
    Grace and Lew Wilson


    - Lew and Grace Wilson

    He was a very nice human being. He was always fun at the gun range when we went target shooting. He will be missed.


    - Brent W Sanders

    Dear Sister Lyon, For no particular reason, Lynn came to my mind the other day. I did know he had passed away at that time. He was a good influence on me as my YM advisor. I remember eating chocolate chip pancakes in your kitchen. I also remember a one on one cross country adventure at Bonneville Golf course, where he gave valuable life advice. I still have the cross country skis that he sold me. Wishing you the best at this hard time.
    Nathan S Burt
    Former Yalecrest Ward Member


    - Nathan. Burt

    My wife, Karen, and I send our condolences to Juneil and the family. I first met Lynn in1959 in the mission home prior to our departure to NZ. In August 1961 Lynn was the best man at our wedding. Since then we have kept in touch and followed each other. May your hearts be comforted and may you rejoice in the life of Joseph Lynn Lyon.

    Kyle


    - Kyle W Petersen

    Our sincere condolence's on Lynn's passing. We worked together on MNC programs for several years. He was a great mentor, keen mind, and asked insightful questions. A man of faith. We are saddened by the loss.


    - Robert Clark

    Dr. Lyon was one of my professors in public health nearly twenty years ago. I was a willing student at the time. I still remember the Monty Python clips. Dr. Lyon was also the author of my group's comprehensive final for my MPH, in which he asked initially whether "we are winning the war on cancer." He followed that question up with 27 sub-parts. My group worked vigorously for our presentation, only to answer the only question Dr. Lyon cared about in the first 10 minutes of a four-hour presentation. Dr. Lyon spent the rest of that presentation taking, what I hope was, a delightful nap. It was a fitting "welcome to the academic club," and matched my impressions of his personality. He will be missed and my condolences go out to you all as his family.


    - Jeffrey Enquist

    For more than 25 years, Lynn was a great mentor to me in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, at the University of Utah. He always had keen insight for the underlying sociology and psychology of academic culture and politics. He was always helpful for sorting out such issues, as well as for thinking through a scientific question.


    - Joseph Stanford