John Robert Korpi

Our dear husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, John Robert Korpi, 77, passed away from complications due to cancer on May 23, 2016 in a Las Vegas, NV hospital.

He was born in Newell, SD on September 5, 1938 to John J. Korpi and Helen Kumpula Korpi.

The family moved to Lead, SD where he was raised.  While in high school, he became one of the boys who worked for the school custodian, Mr. Pine.  These boys were referred to as "The Pine Boys" throughout their high school years.

John attended the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology college in Rapid City, SD.  He graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

John was patriotic and served his country in the U.S. Navy for 4 years.  He was stationed in Charleston, SC, Great Lakes naval base and on the Pacific island of Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands.  He also has a tall flag pole in his yard, flying the U.S.A. flag daily.

He became employed by the Boeing Company, and moved to Seattle, WA, where he met Karen, who was employed by the Boeing Credit Union. They were married in Bellevue, WA.  John was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and was sealed to his wife and children in the Jordan River Temple in South Jordan, UT on July 31, 2003.

After being out in the field with Boeing, and living in several states, John and Karen decided to settle down in Utah. He left Boeing and moved to Chester, UT, then to Sandy, UT.  John became an employee of Wasatch Electric Company in Salt Lake City, UT.  He was a Project Manager and Estimator for 26 years. He managed many power-line projects in various states, throughout his career, including street lights on 90th South in Sandy, UT and street lights in Park City, UT.  John also served on the 8th District Electrical Apprenticeship committee.

John enjoyed hunting, camping, gardening, visiting neighbors, traveling...and chickens!  He had a large painted tepee, and belonged to the High Uinta Mountain Man Club.  He went on fun rendezvous with his family and friends.  He wore his elk skin outfit, and shot his muzzle-loader gun. John really liked his red Ford truck, and would tell his wife when leaving their home "I'll be in the truck!"  Karen is considering putting this statement on his headstone!

John and Karen took grandchildren on various trips, plus traveled to many places with friends and family, on cruises and in their R.V.  They visited all 50 states in the U.S.A., and some foreign countries too.

John grew a large garden, sharing the harvest with friends, people in the neighborhood, and family.  After retirement, he raised chickens and sold eggs as a hobby. He was a member of Front Sight Firearms Training Institute in Pahrump, NV.

He served in various church callings: Scouting, Sunday School Presidency, High Priest Group Leadership, Bishops' Storehouse with Karen, Ward Preparedness Leader (which he quite enjoyed!), and with Karen, served an Inner-city mission in the Glendale area of Salt Lake City, UT.

John is survived by his wife Karen, Sandy, UT; daughter Diane Romanello (Tony), West Jordan, UT; son John (Jane), Salt Lake City, UT; daughter Jill Lamping (John), Moapa, NV; son Ryan (Nicole), West Jordan, UT; sister June Treber (David - deceased), Spearfish, SD; He is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Brittany, Porter, Zane, Jake, Colton, Sadie, Kaitlyn, Myrrhanda, Trinity, Tilton and Truett.  He was preceded in death by his older sister Donna O'Brien (Pat - deceased), York, PA.

Funeral services are on Saturday, June 4th at 10:30 a.m. at the Mt. Jordan 6th Ward Chapel, with a viewing prior to the funeral from 9:30 - 10:15 a.m., located at 9331 South 300 East, Sandy, UT.  Also, a viewing the evening before on Friday, June 3rd from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Goff Mortuary located at 8090 South State Street, Midvale, UT.  Interment after the funeral at Moroni City Cemetery in Sanpete County, UT.

In lieu of flowers, John would suggest you buy food storage, for emergency preparedness. This was one of John's passions. Thank you!