Jack L. Johnson passed away quietly Monday, January 5, 1998 of causes incident to age. He was 89.
Jack was born July 10, 1908 in Salt Lake City to Seth Guernsey and Emma Eliza Allcock Johnson. As a youth, he hoboed to work in the grain fields of Canada and Chrysler Motors in Detroit, Michigan. On July 17, 1931, he married his sweetheart, Priscilla Jean Brown, in the Manti LDS Temple. She passed away in January, 1983. They had two children.Jack's grandmother brought seeds, cuttings and trees across the plains in a covered wagon and his grandfather had the first nursery in Utah, just south of the State Fairgrounds. Jack was a third generation nurseryman. He worked for Salt Lake City landscaping Memory Grove and for Stadium Gardens as a florist and grower. He also was head gardener at Saltair Beach Resort on the Great Salt Lake. Jack was superintendent for the landscaping of the new town of Draggerton, UT built by Kieser Steel before World War II.
Jack served as a chemical warfare sergeant in World War II. After returning from the Army, he landscaped the George E. Merrill Estate and worked for Forest Hills Nursery in his spare time.
He founded Wasatch Shadows Nursery with his wife, Jean and son, Dave in 1951. He built hundreds of beautiful gardens and landscapes throughout the intermountain west, including work on Robert Redford's home at Sundance.
Jack started many landscape techniques and introduced many plant varieties to the Utah climate. Jack was the past president of the Utah Assoc. of Nurserymen and a member of the first Board of Directors of the State Arboretum of Utah. He was a certified nurseryman and his wife, Jean was Utah's first certified nurserywoman. He was also a Spring Garden Festival honored Person of the Year and was a judge for several years of the Civic Beautification Awards of Utah. He has been a great friend, mentor and innovator of the nursery/landscape industry.
Jack loved the desert. He and Jean renovated a pioneer polygamist home in Santa Clara, UT, which the family still owns. The St. George area became too civilized for them, so they built a home in Borrego Springs, CA, "the real desert." They loved nothing better than to have friends visit, go sight seeing and have a picnic in the desert. After Jean passed away, Jack lived in Borrego for a few years until his health problems forced him to move back to Salt Lake City.
Jack lived at the Retirement Inn at Cottonwood Creek for several years. We would like to thank the staff and friends for all their love and support through these years. At the time of his death, he was at the Heritage Bennion Care Center. We would also like to thank the staff and friends there for their love and support. Everyone has been great.
Jack is preceded in death by his wife, Jean; six brothers and two sisters.
He is survived by son, Dave (Jeannene) Johnson, Murray; daughter, Nancy (Bill) Soule, Salt Lake City; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchild; brother, Fred (Mable) Johnson, West Valley City; sister, Kathryn (Dale) Hokanson, Fairfield, CA; sister-in-law, Teena Johnson, Farmington; many nieces and nephews and many, many friends.
Thank you dada and grandpa for your love, friendship and contributions. We love you!
Funeral services will be held friday, January 9, 1998 at the Holladay 10th Ward, 2565 E. Murray-Holladay Road at 2 p.m. Friends may call Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mackay Cottonwood Mortuary, 4670 Highland Drive, and one hour prior to the services at the church. Interment at the Holladay Memorial Park.
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