Joseph Smith Brammer

1925-2022

Joseph Smith Brammer, 96, passed away Monday, August 22, 2022. Joseph was born on October 13, 1925, to Douglas Brammer and Elsie Hollingsworth Brammer in Salt Lake City, Utah. Shortly afterward the family relocated to the Mormon Colonies in Mexico where Douglas was hired to teach in the church schools. While there Joseph contracted diphtheria but recovered. In 1928 the family returned to Salt Lake City.

Joseph grew up in poverty during the depression while his father did what he could to support the family. They eventually settled in the Sugar House area of Salt Lake City. Joseph enjoyed sports activities and was an excellent marble player. He took up swimming where he excelled and won many awards sponsored by Salt Lake City. He was a good basketball player and played for one of the high school teams. Joe attended South High School and later the University of Utah. When World War II broke out he wanted to enlist but couldn't until he turned 18. At that time he joined the Army Air Corp and eventually became a navigator and bombardier. He was training on B-29s when the war ended so he never went overseas. Joe was discharged from the service in November 1945.

Upon returning home he decided to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was called to serve in the Argentina Mission where he served from 1946-48. Joe was always proud of keeping his fluency in Spanish throughout his life. Returning home he enrolled in BYU where he met his future wife Louiene Heninger in one of his classes. The following spring they were engaged and then married on July 27, 1949 in the Cardston Alberta Temple near Louiene's hometown of Raymond.

Joseph and Louiene eventually came to the conclusion that he could make a career in dentistry. He graduated from University of California-Berkeley Dental School (Now known as the University of California-San Francisco) and eventually settled in Southern California, first in Alhambra and finally opening his own office in Covina. He excelled in his profession. There they raised their family and created a happy life together. They always loved living in Southern California. Louiene's heart condition and heart transplant eventually precipitated a move to Provo, Utah. When Louiene died in 2014 he was grief stricken and constantly missed her. He eventually relocated to Spring Gardens Senior Living in Lindon, Utah. There he met and married Joan Nordhagen on April 21, 2018. They lived happily together until his death. She was a great blessing to him.

Joe loved sports, activities, and friends. He was a conversationalist and an advice giver. He had a quick wit and was generous to those in need. He skied, swam, played tennis and especially loved golf which he played into his 90s. Friends were always special to him. The Che group (his mission companions),many friends from Covina and elsewhere were always special to him. In the last 10 years of his life Bruce Peacock helped him continually. Our family would like to thank his caregivers at Spring Garden and the Hospice care at Envision who assisted and served him near the end of his life. We would also like to give special thanks to his wife Joan who did so much for him and with whom he was very happy.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife Louiene. He is survived by his wife Joan, children Helen (James) Heder, Robert Heninger (Paula), Carolyn (Tris Yerrington), John Joseph, and Meg Reeves. He has 15 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday September 3, 2022 11:00 am at the Battle Creek 1st Ward chapel located at 1250 East 200 South in Pleasant Grove, Utah. A viewing will be held that morning between 9:30 am and 10:30 am. Interment will be at 2:30 pm at East Lawn Cemetery in Provo.