Jerry Delane Pace's Obituary
Jerry Delane Pace died in Sandy, Utah on March 8, 2024 at the age of 94. He was born December 12,1929 in Salt Lake City, to Alma Pratt Pace and Millie Juanita Louise Jones Pace. He married his high school sweetheart, Fern Lucinda Day, on March 25, 1948. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in 1951. They lived in Highland, Utah where they had 8 children and raised 7. Kenna, a baby daughter, died shortly after birth. Fern passed away on May 29, 2001.They were married for 53 years. Jerry met Glenda Anderson Butler in 2002 and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 2, 2003 in a civil ceremony. They were married for more than 20 years.
Jerry played football at American Fork High School on both the offensive and defensive teams. He always worked hard for his family. Shortly after he married, he built a 3-room home on his 20-acre farm in Highland. For several years they had no running water so carried water from the ditch for their use. They cooked on a wood stove and bathed in a large metal tub. Through hard work he raised tumbler pigeons, farmed alfalfa, peas, tomatoes, and wheat. He also raised cows, horses, pigs, and chickens on the farm while he worked full-time at Geneva Steel. He enjoyed the Timpanogos area where he hiked, camped, and hunted. In 1962 he built his family a new home in Highland, south of the old one, with indoor bathroom facilities. No more footprints in the snow running to the outhouse. It was a cherished gift to his young family. He was employed as a Carpenter at Geneva Steel for 39 years. His favorite memories were raising pigeons, being a referee for sports, singing in the American Fork Civic Choir, serving in the Bishopric at the Developmental Center, and serving with Fern in both the Provo and Timpanogos temples for 8 years.
Jerry and Glenda lived in Sandy, Utah. They enjoyed many years working at the Utah State Fair in the Fine Arts Building. They served together as LDS Stake Baptismal Leaders and as Stake Ministers for over 10 years. We thank Glenda for the happiness she brought into his life. Jerry was lovingly accepted into the Butler family which brought him joy.
Jerry’s main mission in life was raising his family with Fern in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He wasn’t raised in a religious home and his love for God was refined through his life’s experiences. His example of faith and devotion to God are his greatest gift to his children.
He is survived by his wife Glenda; Jerry and Fern’s children: Melvin, Jerilene (Dan) Symmes, Kevin (Madelyn), Mark (Tara), Brad (Gasolo), Suzanne (Neil Johnson), and Celia Pace. He has 33 grandchildren, 73 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his stepchildren: Clark (Sandra) Butler, Dorothy (Jim) Curtis, Deonne (Dean) Constantine, Diane (Roger) Dalling, Brenda (Troy) Morton, Bruse (Erica) Butler, Myran Butler, and Kenna (Steve) Smith.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Fern, brother Larry Lamar Pace, sister Alma Cheri Pace, and daughter Kenna Dee Pace.
The funeral will be held at Hillcrest 4th Ward, Pebble Hills Chapel, 8735 Harvard Park Drive, Sandy, UT 84094 at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 16. There will be no viewing, but there will be a slide presentation of Jerry’s life at 10:50 am in the chapel before the funeral.
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