John Wayne Gillman's Obituary
John Wayne Gillman -June 19, 1950–March 10, 2024
Family and friends, it is with great sadness that Wayne passed away on March 10 from his 19-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 73. There will be no services per his wishes. Instead, please lift a glass of whatever you choose to celebrate his life with your memories as his family and friends, past and present. That would make him so happy! He valued each and every one of you and the roles you played in his life.
He was an attorney for 27 years. He was able to travel to wonderful places as an avid kayaker and photographer, his second career and his passion!
He worked hard in the pursuit of beauty: waiting to photograph sunrise in the chill of winter next to a quiet creek in Yellowstone National Park; lugging extra lenses on the long hike down Venezuela’s Pico Bolívar; paddling mile after mile through the fjords of Patagonia in Chile or the Greenland ice cap; even capturing the autumn colors of East Canyon near Salt Lake City on his last trip out with the camera. Though we will long cherish our memories of him, he also leaves behind a legacy of stories captured in images.
Amidst all this travel, he always found time to catch a college basketball or football game. He also enjoyed spending time with friends from his college days at Utah State University and law school at the University of Utah.
Wayne was something of a Renaissance man. Beyond his comprehension of the law and eye behind the camera, he was a gifted cook and known for his chili, both verde and rojo. He knew history. (Like, all of it.) He could wire electrical in a house. Could fix many things, was an avid outdoorsman and skier, and at a sturdy 6’3” was a legit baller (defined as someone “proficient at the art of basketball”)—though he suffered the occasional broken bone in pickup games with the law school friends. He could play the guitar and he had a great voice. He had a deep intellect and a detailed memory. He could call up a line from a movie decades old and mimic the intonation, laughing as he did. He was caring and compassionate. He was bitter about dying.
Thank you to Utah Cancer Specialists and Atlas Hospice for their care and compassion.
Wayne is survived by his wife Kathy (Arni) of 51 years, his son Kelly (Tina), granddaughters Reagan and Samantha; his son Andrew (Nikki); his daughter, Jill; his sisters, Karmen and Audrey and their families (preceded in death by his parents, John and Donna and his sister, Karen); his in-laws Kelly, Kim, Patsy (preceded in death by Mike, Kathy's brother) and their families. Wayne was proud of his family and quietly expressed his praise to his children as they made their way in the world. He loved all of them very much.
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