Garn Alvin Tollestrup, loving husband, father, and grandfather, died of natural causes at his new home in Helper, Utah on May 27, 2016 at the age of 82. He had recently returned to his roots in Castle Country from Salt Lake City to live with his daughter Linda and her family.
Garn was born on November 14, 1933 to Marinus and Elsie Ward Tollestrup, in Huntington, Utah. He was educated in the Salt Lake City and Davis County school systems, graduating from Davis High School in 1951. He was a proud Davis Dart all his life! Garn spent summers on his Uncle Ralph Lundy's ranch in Cleveland, Utah relishing his time as a cowboy there with his grandma, brothers, sister, and cousins.
Garn served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was always proud of having served in the armed forces and was particularly proud that his father and brothers served in every conflict that the United States was involved with in the 20th century.
Garn attended the University of Utah where he met and married the most beautiful girl in the world, Mary Ann Cannon, in December 1957. He graduated from the U with a bachelor's degree in Economicsand bled crimson red for the rest of his life. He made sure to indoctrinate his two girls and later his dear grandchildren into being loyal Utes at an early age. Garn was always so proud of the University of Utah, not only for its athletic prowess, but also for its great achievements in education and science.
Garn gained computer experience while stationed at the Presidio during his Army service and developed those skills into an illustrious career with Utah Oil, EIMCO, UNIVAC, the State of Utah and the Utah Department of Transportation as a systems analyst, strategic planner and computer program developer. He also used his people skills in sales and marketing where he won many top sales awards while at UNIVAC. Garn also had an entrepreneurial streak and founded several computer-related businesses throughout his life.
Garn faithfully served in many capacities as an Elder and High Priest for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spending almost 50 years as a member of the Monument Park Ninth Ward (Monument Park Stake). He will best be remembered for his touching and humorous anecdotes at the pulpit as a counselor in the bishopric.
Garn's interests were many. He was a passionate fan of classical music and loved to conduct along, using the baton gifted to him by his oldest daughter Sammie, as the music played. He was always ready to conduct a symphony orchestra in Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, but much to his chagrin, was never called upon to do so. He read voraciously and played several sports with skill and enthusiasm.
Garn was a very emotional person, his feelings always close to the surface, tears easily brought forth by beautiful music, prose, tragedy, or injustice. He was very proud of his Anglo-Saxon heritage and was an Anglophile in every sense of the word. He was also proud of his Danish, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. By nature he was a very questioning person. He could not accept a truth simply by others telling him it was true. He had to study and resolve a question through logic and reason. He would often take considerable time in the resolution of philosophical, religious, and political issues, stating that until he had resolved them, he would not, "throw out the baby with the bath water."
Above all, Garn loved his family. He was so very proud of his wife, daughters, and grandchildren. He is survived by his two daughters, Sammie Tollestrup Vanderpool (Stephen) and Linda Tollestrup Hapsmith (Michael), five grandchildren, Alexandra Vanderpool, Anthony Hapsmith, Jamie Hapsmith, Marli Stevens, and Monica Hapsmith Pluto (Jan), cousin Khyva Ward Bowles (Clark), and beloved nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his dear wife Mary Ann, siblings Joan (Woolley), Bill, Paul and Mike, two baby sons and a baby grandson.
A viewing will be held Friday, June 3, 2016, at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 E. 1300 S. in Salt Lake City from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Saturday, June 4, 2016, at the Monument Park Ninth Ward, 1565 S. Foothill Dr. in Salt Lake City at 11:00 a.m. A viewing will be held the hour prior to the funeral. Interment will take place at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
