Joseph "Leon" Green

Joseph Leon Green was welcomed home to the awaiting heavenly arms of his beloved bride Bonny on Saturday December 28, 2024. Joseph Leon Green, or “Leon” as he was affectionately called was born on June 6, 1935, in Salt Lake City, UT to Joseph Afton Green and Mary Afton Peterson. 

At the age of 17, Leon enlisted in the USMC in 1953 to serve his country during the Korean War. A true patriot, Leon graduated boot camp at Camp Pendelton, CA and served on active duty as a heavy artillery specialist on domestic and foreign soil for 3 years before receiving an honorable discharge and returning home to SLC, UT. Leon received special military citations for his service, notably the Korean Service Medal, UN Service Medal National Defense and Good Conduct Medal. 

Leon married his eternal love Bonny Lee Kammerman on July 11, 1957, in Holladay, UT and they were later sealed in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple on June 2, 1962. Leon and Bonny were blessed to have 4 children and he always put his family first. After many years working at Mountain Fuel Company, Leon returned to school at the University of Utah and graduated in 1975 with a B.A. in Geology with emphasis on oil and gas exploration. Throughout his career, Leon’s work allowed him to call home in places such as Texas, Oregon, and Kansas, and considered it a privilege to work on the offshore drilling rigs. Leon retired from his geology career in 1997, but his love of the earth stayed close in his hobby of gardening and relaxing in the grass at his home in Murray, UT.

Leon had a love of the great outdoors and created many fond memories for family and friends on hunting and fishing trips in Utah’s Rocky Mountains. Leon was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and found great joy serving as a temple ordinance worker in the Jordan River, Utah Temple for more than 20 years. Leon and Bonny served together as welfare service missionaries in the cannery and dry pack facilities and loved their time as missionaries in the Church Welfare Dept. 

Leon was preceded in death by his beloved wife Bonny Lee Kammerman Green in 2019; his son Bradford L Green (Patty) in 2012 and his daughter Camille Green in 2021. Leon is survived by his sons Gregory B. Green (Stacey) and David A. Green (Meiying) and his sister Ruth (Harold) Wiley. Leon lived his legacy of “Faith & Family First” every day and rejoiced often in his 11 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren as well as cousins, nieces, nephews and close personal friends. All who knew Leon, knew they were valued due to his unconditional love and happiness for their success and endeavors.

Our family expresses gratitude and sincere appreciation for all those at IHC Hospice for their dedicated service and support over the last 3 months with special recognition to David Green (Meiying) for their sacrifice and tender care for Dad for these last 3 years.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 1:00 PM in the Murray City Cemetery, 5490 S. Vine St. Murray, UT 84107 and all family and friends are invited to join in celebrating Leon’s life!