Joseph Shaw Warner

Joseph Shaw Warner

July 27, 1930 – June 3, 2015 (age 84)

Joseph Shaw Warner (Joe) passed away peacefully in Mapleton, Utah, on Wednesday, June 3, 2015.

Joe was born in Phoenix, Arizona to Joseph Lowrey and Georgia Ruby (Shaw) Warner on July 27, 1930.  He and his younger brother, George, grew up mostly in Arizona and Illiniois.  His lifelong interest in aviation began early, highlighted by earning his pilot’s license as a teenager.  He graduated from high school in Donavan, Illinois, in 1948, after which he enlisted in the United States Air Force.  He served his country for 26 years, 3 of which were in active duty and the remainder in the Air Force Reserve.  His love for America was evident in his life as shown through his example of patriotism and honor.

Joe graduated from the University of Illinois in 1955, completing his bachelor’s degree in Marketing in just three years.  He then joined Sutherland Paper Co. in Michigan where he distinguished himself as a sales and marketing leader.  Always ready for an adventure, Joe moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1957 to work on special air defense projects at Ladd Air Force Base.  Later he joined the Boeing Co. where he managed Minuteman rocket test projects at the Vandenberg Space and Missile Testing Base in California.  His 10 years with Boeing included assignments at Cape Canaveral, Florida, one of which was a critical readiness responsibility for the massive crawler-transporters used for the Saturn V Apollo and other history making space vehicles of the 1960s.

In the 1970s, Joe had his own real estate office for several years.  He then returned to Alaska to work on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System construction project.  Operating in the extreme cold and remote terrain, he earned a journeyman’s electrician license, a testament to his ability to teach himself and master any technical trade that interested him.

While in Fairbanks, Joe met Jacqueline Ann Roberts.  They married 6 months later in Sacramento, California on September 5, 1959.  Joe and Jacqueline had 3 children: Janine, Michelle, and Daniel (Dan).  Joe’s work and interests presented opportunities to live and travel throughout much of the United States, residing in California, Washington, Florida, Texas, and Alaska.

On Janine’s eighth birthday in 1971, Joe, Jacqueline, and Janine were all baptized as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  A year later, the whole family was sealed in the Logan Temple.  Joe’s testimony and knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ was his foundation.  His burning desire to research and organize family history in order to seal families together for eternity motivated him to spend countless late nights immersed in the work.  Joe and Jackie also enjoyed serving as temple workers in the Seattle Temple for 7 ½ years.

Joe will be remembered as an excellent provider, protector, and advocate.  He had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, reading about science, aviation, automobiles, sailing, travel, American history, and politics.  He enjoyed jazz, big band, and semi-classical music.  He loved all animals.  Some favorite pets were Jumper, a golden retriever, and two cats, Camie and Sweet Stuff.  Most of all, Joe loved to talk.  He never knew a stranger.  He was eager to share his knowledge and wisdom with others.  He was friendly and could strike up a conversation with anyone.

Joe loved his family and friends.  He is survived by his loving wife, Jacqueline, of 55 years; his three children,  Janine (Joe) Yates of Payson, Utah, Michelle (Ross) Klvacek of Herriman, Utah,  and Daniel (Prudence) Warner of Brisbane, Australia; his 15 grandchildren, Joshua (Gwen) Yates, Jacob Yates, Madeline (Travis) Raymond, Jacqueline Yates, Jessie Yates, Poucha Yates, Tanner (Mykell) Grover, Landon Grover, Natasha (Ian) Heindel, Chantel Grover, Russell Klvacek, Matthew Klvacek, Camille Klvacek, Ella Warner, Sophie Warner; and 1 great granddaughter, Charlotte Yates.  Joe is also survived by his brother, George (Colleen) Warner; nephew, Joe (Donna) Warner; niece, Julie (David) Connolly; and great nieces, Kendall Warner and Jenna Warner.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Georgia Warner.

A Memorial Service will be held at the LDS Chapel next to the Payson Temple, located at 952 W. 1580 S, Payson, Utah, at 4:00 pm on Saturday, June 13, 2015.  (I-15 Exit #248)

Cremation was under the direction of Wheeler Mortuary of Springville, Utah.