Grandpa George

George W. Johansen

8/11/1941 ~ 2/26/2016

George Wilford Johansen, 74, passed away February 26, 2016 at his home in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. He was born August 11, 1941 to Dean Niels Johansen and Evelyne Jane Whitman. George married Barbara Ann Graff on April 10, 1965 in Parowan, Utah. They were later sealed for time and all eternity in the LDS Manti Temple.
George worked hard his entire life. He started and ran two successful businesses and a farm. Through those business ventures his children and countless others learned the value of an honest day’s work and its rewards. George always assumed you could perform any given task or find any given location without much direction – we all learned to problem solve on the fly. He was a self-proclaimed doctor and a connoisseur of convenience store fare. George was active in his church and community. He served as a Stake President, a Bishop, a member of the High Council, a counselor in the Single Adult Ward and as a Primary Teacher. He served as a City Councilman and a member of the Planning and Zoning Committee. He had a strong belief that hard work and a backhoe could fix any physical ailment or home repair. He doted on his wife, kids, grandkids and his cows and made sure that all were home and safe each night. He loved living in Sanpete County and could only live without Sanpete County air and water for short periods of time. He was a magnificent teacher, by example. He taught us that music in the car isn’t just there for background noise. It needs to be sung out loud with hand gestures. That if someone is in need you jump in and help – no questions asked. That everyone is a child of God and deserves to be treated as such – God will judge later. Forgive and forget no matter how hurtful another person is being. George was a man with a body and a heart bigger than the average man. He will be missed but his influence will never be gone. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He loved unconditionally and that instilled a sense of safety and security that allowed all of us to grow and become who we are today.
George was preceded in death by his parents Dean and Evelyne Johansen. He is survived by his wife Barbara Ann Johansen of Mt. Pleasant, his five children: Cindy Lynn Johansen of Mt. Pleasant, Christy C. Johansen of Mt. Pleasant, Dean George (Laura) Johansen of Providence, John Graff Johansen of Mt. Pleasant and Karen Ann (Clint) Sorensen of Heber, his seven grandchildren: Duncan George Johansen, Dawson Peter Johansen, Beckham Dean Johansen, Roman John Johansen, Wrigley Clint Sorensen, Reese Ann Sorensen and Atticus Cole Sorensen, his siblings: Alden (Martha) Johansen and Rodger (Jenni) Johansen.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mt. Pleasant North Stake Center. Friends may call Wednesday evening, March 2 from 6-8 p.m. or March 3 from 9:30-10:30 at the Stake Center. Interment will be in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery. Online Condolence rasmussenmortuary.com