James Gordon Wiser

James Gordon “Gordon” Wiser, 96, passed away peacefully, on November 11, 2024, at the Legacy House-Park Lane in Farmington, Utah. He was born December 10, 1927, in Lewiston, Utah. He was the 4th of 9 children, and the last surviving child of Erwin Douglas and Wanda (Thompson) Wiser. He was a child during the Depression and grew up on the family farm in Lewiston. He also helped with the tractor implement business of his father until his parents and younger siblings moved to a large farm near Ephrata, Washington in 1951 as part of the Columbia Basin Project. 

Gordon graduated from North Cache High School in 1947 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from Utah State University in 1957. He was a talented runner in high school and in 1946 set a new mile record of 4 minutes 53 seconds shattering the old record by 19 seconds. He served as a missionary in the Northwestern States and West Central States Missions from 1950 to 1952. He was inducted into the Army in 1952 after being in the National Guard for a number of years. He served for two years between World War II and the Korean Wars, with the Motor Pool in California, Arizona, Virginia, and the Aleutian Islands. 

On February 17, 1955, he married Eva Lou Blair in the Logan LDS Temple. They have been married for 69 years. They were blessed with three children, Ron, Bob, and Shelly. Gordon was an aeronautical engineer and was part of the Space program during the 1960s. As a result, he worked for a number of aerospace companies including Lockheed and Boeing Aircraft Companies, and in partnership with NASA, at times in various states including California, Washington, Alabama, and Texas. His work included the Saturn V, Boeing Dyna-Soar, and 747 aircraft projects.

In 1971, he returned to Utah and graduated with a Master’s Degree from Utah State in Industrial Technology. He then worked with a number of companies in northern Utah including Thiokol, but primarily for Ezra and Cordell Lundahl who had contracts with John Deere company designing farm machinery and equipment. Gordon was a master designer and inventor who could build and fix anything. 

Gordon was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout his life and served in callings as a disciple of Christ. He loved to attend Church meetings and fulfill his calling as a Home Teacher. He was also the “clerk of choice” for many leaders because of his meticulous record keeping. In later life, Gordon and Eva Lou were service missionaries in Logan, Utah at Deseret Industries. Gordon and Eva Lou spent much of their retirement in the Cobblestone subdivision in Providence, Utah and enjoyed their time with friends there. Gordon was very good at strategic games, chess, swimming, bowling and playing ping-pong. 

Gordon is survived by his children, Ron (Cindy), Bob (Bev), Shelly and dear friend of the family, Kathy Mickelsen, seven grandchildren and their spouses, Trina (Matt Call), Robert (Tjasha), Tisha (Ryan Wheelwright), JT (Sara), Dave (Kristy), Logan (Michaela), Andrew (Kielee), and 19 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law, Bev, wife of brother Denny, Susan (Jay Ellis Allen) and many other family and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, and eight brothers and sisters and their spouses, Dee (Lorna), Gen (Ted Denning), Sylmar (Karma), Denny, Anita (Cleve Raymond), Robert, Gwen, and Burdette. 

A joint funeral service for both Gordon and Eva Lou will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 2:00 PM at White Pine Funeral Services, 753 S 100 E, Logan, Utah.  A viewing will be held prior to the service from 12:30 to 1:30 PM at the funeral home. The burial will be in the family plot in the Logan City Cemetery.

We express our appreciation to all who have helped with his care in any way during the last few years of his life, especially the staff at Legacy House for their caring and kindness, and the help and care provided by Aspire Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Wiser Family Endowment at Ensign College (formerly LDS Business College) This is a scholarship program established in honor of Gordon and Eva Lou. The donation may be made at: https://donate.churchofjesuschrist.org/contribute/ensign-college?funds=30520041

Gordon and Eva Lou's funeral service can be viewed via Zoom at: CLICK HERE TO WATCH SERVICE VIA ZOOM