Wayne Edwin Johnson

Wayne Edwin Johnson
January 21, 1940 — January 1, 2026
Tooele

Wayne Edwin Johnson returned to his Heavenly Home on January 1, 2026. He was born on January 21, 1940, to Charles Alden Johnson and Ivy Hibbard Johnson. Wayne grew up in Provo, Utah, where he met Patricia Spalding. They were married on June 6, 1958, in Provo, Utah.

Wayne and Patricia moved many times while he worked various jobs during his machinist apprenticeship, eventually settling in Tooele, Utah, where he worked at the Tooele Army Depot while raising their family. Wayne loved to tell stories of his wild youth, reflecting on decisions he had made and sharing the wisdom he gained with his grandchildren. He often spoke of growing up on farms, learning trades, and his time at the Army Depot—and he always had a joke to tell.

Wayne enjoyed fishing and especially cherished spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was happily sealed to his family in the Salt Lake Temple on May 25, 1982. Following his retirement, Wayne and Patricia served several missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including service at the Salt Lake Temple, in Chinle, Arizona, at Salt Lake Member Location, and at the Tooele LDS Employment Center. Wayne spoke fondly of his service in Arizona and of the Navajo people they taught, but above all, his love for the Gospel was paramount.

Throughout his life, Wayne served faithfully in many church callings and remembered the people he served with—even decades later. He had a gift for connecting with others, making everyone feel welcome and uplifted. Known for his strong sense of humor, Wayne was always cracking jokes and bringing laughter to those around him. Whenever something needed fixing, he seemed to have the solution and was eager to teach others how to do it. He was always tinkering and instilled in his children the value of hard work and manual labor.

Though Wayne was a firm and principled man, his love for his family was unmistakable. He and Patricia were married for 67 years, and their relationship remains the standard their family strives to emulate.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Patricia “Pat” Johnson; his children, Mark (Joan) Johnson of Kaysville, Utah; Vicki (Terry) Riedel of Erie, Colorado; Karen (Jerry) Richards of Tooele, Utah; and Donald Johnson of Tooele, Utah; his sister, Donna Larsen of Midvale, Utah; twenty grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren, with one more on the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Glen Johnson; his son, Randy Johnson; and Randy’s wife, Donna.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, with a viewing at 10:00 a.m. and the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 751 N. 520 E., Tooele, Utah. Interment will follow at the Tooele City Cemetery, 361 S. 100 E., Tooele, Utah. Services entrusted with Didericksen Memorial, 435-277-0050.

The funeral service will be live streamed. Click on the following link to watch:

https://meet.google.com/ogs-rmyb-uaa