Cover photo for James Merl Greenhalgh's Obituary
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1924 James 2016

James Merl Greenhalgh

January 15, 1924 — October 19, 2016

James Merl Greenhalgh, 92, of  Logan, Utah, died Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at  Logan Regional Hospital.  He was born in Nephi, Utah, on January 15, 1924, to Joseph Hyrum Greenhalgh and Pearl Belliston Greenhalgh.  He married Elaine Anderberg on October 24, 1951.  They were sealed for eternity in the LDS Salt Lake Temple on October 8, 1954.  Their daughter, Laurel, was born in 1957.
He was a 1942 graduate of Juab High School where he was senior class president and yearbook editor.  In 1949 he graduated from the University of Utah where he was named to Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honorary scholastic societies.  He also attended Utah State Agricultural College and University of California Berkeley.  It was, however, the learning and training that he received throughout his youth as a member of a loving and hard working farm family that he considered as the paramount source of his education. It was there that he acquired an abundance of common sense, an “I can do it” attitude, and a love for God, country and fellowmen.
His career was as an education services officer in the administration of continuing education programs for military personnel. He was considered a national authority in this field by his peers throughout the country.  In 1971 he was named as the outstanding federal employee in the Tacoma-Seattle-Bremerton Washington area for his contribution to vocational preparation for returning Vietnam veterans.  For several years he managed a cooperative arrangement of ten universities and technical institutes providing degree and certificate programs for troops at Fort Lewis, Washington.  He retired in 1980 at which time he received a Department of the Army decoration for meritorious civilian service.
During World War II he served in an army artillery unit in New Guinea and the Philippines and was awarded the Bronze Star medal for heroic combat service.  He was recalled to active duty for one year during the Korean conflict.
As a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of  Latter-day Saints he served in many callings:  Bishop, high councilor, counselor in the stake presidency of  Puget Sound and Tacoma stakes, ward and stake young men president, stake missionary, executive secretary to  regional representative, Seattle temple worker, and as an executive secretary for three presidents of the Provo Missionary Training Center.  In 1996-97 he and Elaine were full-time missionaries serving in the Utah Salt Lake Temple Square mission.
Loving to work side by side, he and Elaine, built and decorated three homes in the Tacoma, Washington area.  His hobbies included making stained glass windows and gardening.  Road trips with Elaine were a favorite pastime as they traveled throughout the entire country. He was a most loving grandpa and supported his grandchildren in all their activities.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Read, Hyrum, Ray, Heber, Stellman and Clark and sisters, Ellen, Jessie, and infant twins Lila and Lola.
Surviving are his wife Elaine, daughter, Laurel Jensen (Wayne) of Logan, three grandchildren, Bryant (Alexis), Garrett and Camille Bushnell (Stott) and great-grandson, Maxwell Jensen.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at 12:00 noon at Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 State St, Orem, Utah. A viewing will be held,   prior to the funeral, from 10:30 to 11:30 at the mortuary.  Interment will be at the Orem City Cemetery.
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