John Robert "Jack" Simmons

LOGAN, UTAH: John Robert (Jack) Simmons, age 83, died Sunday, September 4th, 2011 at the Logan Regional Hospital. He was born in Cokeville, Wyoming May 28, 1928 to Alburtus Stone and Beatrice Dayton Simmons.

At age 8, his family moved to Logan. He graduated from Logan High School in 1946. He attended Utah State Agricultural College where he met his future wife, Helen Lower in the fall of 1948. Helen brought a special joy into his life. Shortly after, John served in the Northern California LDS Mission for 4 months while awaiting a shipping strike to end. He then served in New Zealand for another 24 months.

Upon his return, John was drafted into the U.S. Army on Labor Day 1951. During leave, he and Helen were married in the Logan Temple May 2, 1952, prior to a 15-month deployment to Japan during the Korean War. He served as a Cryptographer.

John returned to Utah State and earned B.S and M.S degrees, then earned a PhD in Biochemistry at the California Institute of Technology as a National Science Foundation Fellow. Two years of postdoctoral work followed in the Department of Biochemistry at the Stanford Medical School as a National Institutes of Health Fellow.

He became an Assistant Professor of Zoology at Utah State University in the Fall of 1961 and later Full Professor. He was instrumental in bringing about the union of the Departments of Bacteriology, Botany and Zoology to form the Department of Biology and contributed to establishing its curriculum. He served in many administrative positions, including head of his department and acting Dean of the Graduate School.

He served as a pre-med and pre-dental advisor and was recognized as Advisor of the Year in the College of Science. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and as local president of Sigma Xi, an honor society of research scientists. His final assignment at USU was as Acting Associate Provost. He retired in 1993.

John had numerous callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In addition to his New Zealand mission, he served as an officer and teacher in various auxiliaries of the Church; Elder’s Quorum President, High Priest Group Leader; Bishop; High Councilman; member of a stake presidency; and Patriarch. Much of this service was with student wards and stakes associated with USU.

John served as the President of the Oregon Eugene Mission (1993-96) with Helen close at his side. On their return home, they served in the Logan Temple for almost 13 years. He became a temple sealer and was later called as a Counselor in the Temple Presidency (1999-2002).

John served as President of Logan Kiwanis Club. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Logan Regional Hospital for 10 years. He also served a term as President of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers Temple Fork Chapter. He and Helen served as co-presidents of the USU Emeriti. On two occasions he served as a member of the USU Alumni Association Board. He was a member of the Old Main Society and established an endowed scholarship in his name in the Department of Biology in 1997.

John loved music and reading. He and Helen supported and attended concerts of the Utah Festival Opera, the Utah Symphony and the Cache Chamber Music Society. He enjoyed participating with the Towne Singers and the Northern Utah Chorale. They enjoyed U.S. and international travel.

He is survived by his wife, Helen, his sons John R. Jr. (Julie Miller), South Jordan; Richard M. (Karen Jeppesen), Pocatello, ID; Stephen A. (Elizabeth Poelman), Leesburg, VA; and daughter Patricia (Milan) Crane, South Jordan; thirteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Reed A. (Kathryn), Livermore, CA. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Shirley Gay, a brother, Ted (Bonne) and a granddaughter, Kristen Kaye Simmons.

Funeral services will be held at noon, Friday, Sept. 9, 2011 at the Lundstrom Park 3rd Ward LDS Chapel, 1260 North 1600 East, Logan. A viewing will be held Thursday, Sept. 8, from 6-8 p.m. at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center St. Logan and Friday at the Lundstrom Park Chapel from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Interment will be at the Logan City Cemetery with military honors.

The family extends special appreciation to Dr. Michael J. Stones, other attending physicians and medical professionals at the Logan Regional Hospital, as well as the physicians and staff of the Neurosurgery Team at the University of Utah Medical Center.