John W. Bone 1941 ~ 2023

John William Bone, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend returned to his heavenly home to be reunited with many cherished loved ones on October 28, 2023 at the age of 82. He was born March 4, 1941 to George Isaac and Arva Wing Bone and is the second of three children. While working for Durfey Dry Cleaners, John was introduced to his beautiful sweetheart, JoAnn Penovich of American Fork, Utah. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on July 3, 1964.

Growing up in Lehi, Utah, John learned the values of family and work. With many family members nearby, John learned to put his family first and to love his neighbor. During high school John excelled in sports, participating in football, basketball, and shotput. With his friends he enjoyed fishing, hunting birds, and getting into mischief from time-to-time.

After high school, John enlisted in the U.S. Army and served honorably. John served as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southern Australian Mission. He often shared stories of his service, his cherished companions, and his mission president Elder Bruce R. McConkie.

John attended Brigham Young University where he earned his bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees. With teacher parents, John followed their example and had a long career as a speech therapist, special education teacher, and elementary school principal in the Provo School District where he worked for 32 years. John was adjunct faculty at Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University where he inspired future teachers and administrators. After his retirement, John continued his work advocating and supporting many administrators, teachers, and children in Utah. John was an innovative educator and leader in his career. With his vision and leadership, John introduced the first year-round school in the state of Utah (Westridge Elementary). He was recognized with many professional accolades, including being named Utah Education Association principal of the year.

John extended his gifts of love and service to his friends and neighbors in Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico where he led and organized numerous service trips to the indigenous Tarahumara people and establishing "sister" relationships with schools, orphanages and medical clinics. For John, there was a deep love and commitment to serve people across cultures and backgrounds and to bring others along with him. United with his wife, John opened their home and hearts to all who needed their love and assistance. Opening their home resulted in gaining a wonderful daughter-in-law and son from Mexico, and many friends across the globe.

John loved God's handiwork in nature. He regularly served his mother by caring for her roses and fruit trees and always kept a beautiful yard and garden of his own. His example of caring for his angel mother showed his family the example of pure love. For his children, the trips to serve at his mother's home in Lehi were often accompanied with a stop at the Purple Turtle in Pleasant Grove for a sherbet ice cream cone. John loved a big bowl of ice cream and this will be a tradition that his family will continue.

In his later years, John loved being part of the breakfast club at Denny's with many of his dearest friends. John and JoAnn loved to travel and made lasting memories with special friends, Jan and Dean Broderick, and their family. John loved each of his children and grandchildren and took a personal interest in their lives. He regularly shared counsel, offered a listening ear, and had anecdotes to bring humor to trials and adversity. His positive attitude through health challenges and pain was an inspiration to loved ones.

He is preceded in death, by his parents and brother (Brian), and many dear family and friends. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, JoAnn, their children Jeffrey John, Bradley (Laura), Sterling (Tara), and Natalie (David) Strickland; special son, Alejandro (Pahola) Ramos; 19 grandchildren; 1 great-granddaughter; sister Margaret Ann (Gordon) Nebeker; sister-in-laws Maralyn Bone and Carol (Jeff) Freeman; brother-in-law David Ingram; many cousins, nieces and nephews.

John would want us all to remember that, "in a world without love, we all would be orphans." In lieu of flowers and gifts, donations may be made to the John W. Bone Casa Amor Fund to support orphan and needy children in Mexico (Venmo @JWB-Casa-Amor).

Funeral services will be held on November 10, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the Lakeridge 8th Ward Chapel, 80 West 900 South, Orem, Utah. A viewing will be held on November 9, 2023 from 6-8 p.m. at Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem, Utah, and at the church two hours prior to services. Interment will be at the Lehi Cemetery.