Lynn Eldon Janes

Lynn Eldon Janes, 84, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, surrounded by his wife and posterity.  As his health declined, Irma was his devoted caretaker and was dedicated to caring for him until the end. 

Lynn was born May 5, 1938, the eldest son of Eldon and Velma Janes.  Five additional brothers joined the family, resulting in a tailor-made basketball team with its associated antics.  The outcome, an almost incomprehensibly close brotherhood that continues to this day.

Lynn honored hard work his whole life – a lesson learned early working on the farm alongside his brothers and parents.  Age brought responsibility including being, at age 14, in charge of the draft horses that were used to pull the family car through three feet of snow down 4th South to 2nd West in Providence so that his younger brother Verl could be born in the Logan hospital.
    
Lynn loved sports but particularly basketball. He played pick-up basketball until age 56 (with the injured knees to prove it).  He held the same season tickets to USU football and basketball games from 1970-2013.  He and Irma together with Dean and Verl and their spouses would annually attend the Utah high school basketball tournaments and, after his retirement, cheer USU in its conference basketball tournament. But his post-retirement passion was golf.  He, with his brothers and friends played every chance he could.  He was even prouder of the years he golfed over 100 rounds than he was of his two holes in one.  He eagerly anticipated that first round of golf after the snows had receded – and this year was no exception.

He attended Providence Elementary and graduated from South Cache High School.  His beautiful, energetic and occasionally mischievous wife also graduated from South Cache one year later. They became acquainted in typing class.  Irma and her sister Delpha skillfully arranged to sit behind Lynn.  Irma expressed her interest in Lynn by playfully bantering with her sister about many topics including the quiet and incredibly shy Lynn.  She claimed to know he was paying attention to the banter by how red his ears would turn.  Completely in character, their first date consisted of a sporting event and a dance afterward.  The story goes that he was so nervous he got sick.  Irma was undeterred.  With the Sadie Hawkins' dance just around the corner, she asked him out.  Given the disaster of the first date, he wouldn’t return her phone calls.  Velma, often a force of nature, was asked to supervene and Lynn was resolutely informed that, “Oh yes you are going to the dance.”   Three years later they were married in the Logan Temple. They were together 63 years.

Lynn, a reformed engineering student, graduated from USU in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the then College of Business and Social Sciences and was awarded the Utah Association of CPA’s Outstanding Graduate Award. To obtain the necessary work experience to sit the CPA exam, Lynn and Irma moved to Grand Junction, Colorado.  Their eldest son, Craig, was born there.  Lynn passed the CPA easily and shortly thereafter returned to Bountiful, Utah to be closer to family.  Christine, Kent and Karen joined the family there.  He made family vacations a priority, even when budgets were tight.  Disneyland was his personal favorite. 

In 1970, the family returned to Providence as he assumed the role of Assistant Controller at USU.  Integrity and hard work would see him promoted to Controller and later to Assistant Vice President for Financial Affairs before his retirement in 2001. He frequently described his time at USU as his dream job. 

Lynn and Irma have always been steadfast supporters of USU. They were Sustaining Members of the Old Main Society with 54 years of consecutive giving and were recognized as Old Main Society President’s Level contributors.  They have funded three scholarships, the Lynn E. & Irma Janes University Endowment, the Lynn E. & Irma Janes Athletic Endowment and the Lynn E. & Irma Janes Accountancy Scholarship.  Their dedication and commitment to USU was recognized in 2017 when they were presented The Emeriti Old Main Award which the Old Main Society described as “[T]he expression of our heritage of education, generosity, and selfless service. It has been created to recognize the role of retired faculty and staff in advancing Utah State University.”

Throughout his life, Lynn was a valiant member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was devoted to the Lord’s service. He served as a beloved bishop in Providence and later, for several years, as stake clerk at the USU Student Stake, among many other callings.  

Lynn is survived by his loving wife Irma, children, Craig (Lisa), Christine (Mark), Kent (Julie), and Karen (Brian), nine grandchildren, and five great grandchildren, his brothers, Dale (Irene), Verl (D’on), and Kay (Allyson).  He now joins his parents, Eldon and Velma, and his brothers Clare and Dean (where the golf is certainly heavenly) as well as many of his friends and ward members.
 
Lynn lived his values and instilled those values in his children.  His legacy continues in the memories of those that knew and loved him and in the aspirations of his children and treasured grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 12:00 PM on Monday, April 17, 2023 in the Old Providence Stake Building Chapel, 309 S Main St, Providence, UT. A viewing will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 AM prior to the funeral service at the church. An additional viewing will be held Sunday, April 16, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at White Pine Funeral Services, 753 S 100 E, Logan, UT. Interment will be at the Providence City Cemetery.

The funeral service can be viewed via Zoom at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85231750784