Jack Simmons

On September 7th, 2016, Jack Simmons passed away peacefully at his home with family members by his side.
Jack was born to Merlin D. Simmons and Grace (Winterton) on April 30, 1937. He married the love of his life, the former Sharen Ann Denney on June 20, 1963 in the Salt Lake LDS temple. As a young adult Jack served as a missionary for the LDS Church in the Eastern States Mission. He and Sharen also served together in the Canada, British Columbia Mission after their retirements. He served his country as a member of the U.S. Army where he was stationed in Korea a few years after the war. He cherished the trip he was able to take more than forty years later to re-visit that land with an old army buddy.
Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend had struggled for almost eight years after a massive stroke that left him wheelchair-bound. That period allowed family members to spend time with “Grandpa” and his gradual decline blessed them with the opportunity to slowly accept the inevitable. Almost all of his family members were able to visit with him during the last few days of his life, while he was still able to enjoy their company.
Jack and Sharen traveled extensively before his stroke, visiting more than 32 states and 14 countries including Russia, the birth-country of some of his grandchildren.
Jack was raised in the Kamas and Heber Valleys. He and Sharen raised their six children in West Jordan. They moved to Hemlock, Michigan in 1995 and spent ten years there until retiring back to Utah. Jack and Sharen built a yard care business that they maintained for over twenty years, until their next venture. They were proud of the business they built with their sons.
Jack was able to pursue his favorite hobby, fishing, up through the last week of his life, taking a nice red salmon from Strawberry Reservoir on his last trip.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Merlin and Grace (Winterton) Simmons, his brothers Lavon (Coleen), Oren (Janice), and one of his sons, Rodney Simmons (April).
He is survived by his wife, Sharen (Denney) Simmons, children, John (Amy), Tom (Michelle), Shirree Kimball (Charles), David (Rachael), Careen Lancaster (Kevin), a brother, Clair (Janet), along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A viewing will be held Monday evening September 12th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Kamas LDS Stake Center (3038 N.  State Road 32, Marion, Utah). Funeral services will be at the same location on Tuesday, September 13th, at 11:00 a.m. with a viewing beginning at 10:00 a.m.. Interment will be at Marion Cemetery under the direction of Crandall Funeral Home.