Jon Leonard Anderson's Obituary
"A Man Who Did A Lot With His Gaffer Tape"
Jon Leonard Anderson was born on October 13, 1944 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Erick and Phyllis Anderson. During his childhood in Salt Lake, Jon fell in love with watching and making movies. That love carried through the rest of his life and was only surpassed by his love for his family and for production students. Jon was always happiest behind the camera or teaching others how to use one.
In many ways, Jon’s life followed a traditional course. He graduated from Olympus High School in Holladay, Utah and went on to serve a two and a half year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweden. When he returned, Jon studied communications at Brigham Young University. What was untraditional was Jon’s passion for film. In a relatively new industry, Jon excelled. He worked in the Harris Fine Arts Center splicing film for the News Studio and continued on in the news and film industry in Salt Lake after leaving BYU. While at BYU, Jon met and married Lynda Wood. Though their marriage did not last, their union led to five wonderful children.
After Salt Lake, Jon’s work took him to Dallas, Texas, where he worked in news broadcasting and then on to Canada where he started with partner, Michael Ham, film company and worked for Access TV. During his time in Canada, Jon’s daughter Holly was diagnosed with cancer. This led to Jon helping build a Ronald McDonald house to help other families whose children were also sick. In addition to the life changing experience of Holly’s illness, Jon also lost members of his Canadian film crew in a helicopter accident while out on assignment. The accident left Jon with a severe fear of heights. That said, Jon would do anything for a good shot, so while he would never ride a rollercoaster, Jon faced his fear over and over again when the film assignment called for it.
Ultimately, life took him back to BYU Broadcasting, where Jon was proud to work for three decades. His dedication and love of his work was evident in everything he did. While Jon was both a fantastic cinematographer and an amazing director, he will be best remembered for being a mentor, and a champion of others in the industry. He was known to be calm and collected when others were not. He created a safe place to learn and work. Jon observed students and supported them in whatever way he could.
While working at BYU, Jon met and fell in love with Stephanie Monsen. Stephanie and Jon built a beautiful life together, adding their daughter to their blended family and eventually adopting a teenage son. Jon loved Stephanie’s boys like his own and made sure they knew that he was always there for them.
Besides his family and his camera, Jon was deeply proud of his faith and his pioneer heritage. The examples of the men and women who came before him helped set the tone for the man he wanted to be. In his lifetime, Jon served in many callings for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in multiple bishoprics, counting his time in a UVU student ward bishopric as one of the highlights of his life, and a temple ordinance worker for many years. Jon also served in Cub Scouts for years and relished any chance to be outdoors with the boys. Jon loved the Utah desert and the mountains of Zion and Mesa Verde National Parks. He enjoyed taking his kids on long drives when the kids needed to feel better about the world. Papa Juan or Papa Jon, as his grandkids called him, was rarely the center of attention, but he was always there, always watching, and always supporting. In any of these situations and places, you were sure to find Jon with a Mountain Dew or Coke in hand. Jon loved his beverages and his hamburgers, the more cooked the better. He and his film crews would travel the world for a shoot, and then always find themselves eating at Outback for a steak or McDonald’s for burger. To know Jon was to be taken to eat at McDonald’s with him.
On August 27, 2023, Jon died at home in Elk Ridge, Utah after telling his sweet wife, “I am out of gaffer tape.” Parkinson’s disease took up so much of his energy in the last decade of his life, but Jon was still always a teacher. Throughout his life, he made others feel safe to be themselves, to make mistakes, and to share their stories. Through his work, he mentored generations of storytellers. Jon was a gentle giant and will be deeply missed by his wife, his children, his grandchildren, extended family, and friends.
Jon is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Carol Burch, his daughter Holly, and his father-in-law Stephen Monsen. He is survived by his wife, Stephanie Anderson, his children: Greg (Jackie) Anderson, Joy Anderson, Josh (Melissa) Anderson, Lili (Derrick) Peterson, Rob (Rachael) Munson, Brett (Juliann) Munson, Spencer (Jessica) Munson, Mori Anderson, and Alejandro (Abi) Llamas- Anderson, sixteen grandchildren, and his mother-in-law Lois Monsen.
A public viewing for Jon will be Thursday, August 31, 2023 from 6-8 pm. A family viewing will be held from 9-9:45 am on Friday, September 1, 2023 with a funeral service to follow at 10am. The address for all events will be 185 E Ridgeview Drive, Elk Ridge, Utah. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Ronald McDonald House Charities (rmdh.org) take your family out for a Coke and hamburger in Jon’s honor.
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