Joel Edison Leetham's Obituary
Joel Edison Leetham was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 18, 1927 to Alpheus and Hilda Leetham. He was raised in Phoenix, Arizona by his father and step-mother Rosabelle Leetham. He participated in speech and debate competitions in high school, served in the US Army in Rome, Italy and served an LDS mission in the Eastern States Mission. Joel enrolled in Stanford University, and in 1953, he met and married the love of his life, Merlyn Johnson, in the Mesa, Arizona Temple. After graduating from Stanford, he began his professional career in public education and served as a teacher, an elementary and middle school principal and in various administrative positions in public school district offices. While working, he completed a Master’s degree in Guidance Counseling from San Jose State University. His favorite classes to teach were US History and the 25 years of teaching Early Morning Seminary.
Joel loved the LDS church and served in many callings and leadership positions. He was beloved by the congregations he served as a bishop in San Carlos and San Jose, California, by his San Jose Stake congregations and by the missionaries of the Philippine Quezon City Mission (86-89). For the last twenty years, he has loved performing weddings and sealings for many couples and groups, including his grandchildren.
Joel is survived by his wife Merlyn of 64 years and four of their five children: Brian (Kathy), son-in-law Scott Bonham, Ken (Mindy), Cheryl Izatt (Joel), and Richard. Also survived by sixteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by his parents, brother Judd, sister Lois and two great-grandchildren. Joel is now having a joyous reunion with his beloved daughter Suzanne Bonham who passed away in 2015.
There will be viewings on Friday, January 26, from 6-8 p.m. and on Saturday, January 27, from 10-11:30 a.m. both at the Willow Creek Stake Center at 2350 Creek Road, Sandy, Utah. Following the viewing on Saturday, a funeral service will be held at noon. Interment will immediately follow at Holladay Memorial Park Cemetery.
The family expresses its deepest appreciation to the wonderful care received by Community Nursing Services and Danville. Their tender attention to Joel and Merlyn was outstanding. The family also expresses its gratitude to Premier Funeral Services for their kind and capable service. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to the LDS Church Humanitarian Fund.
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