Thomas Dean Green's Obituary
Thomas Dean Green, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, neighbor, brother, and uncle, passed away on April 20, 2026, at the age of 82. However people knew him, whatever role he played in their lives, Tom will be remembered for the way he loved people. He had a gift for making others feel truly known and valued. He gave his full attention, listened closely, and expressed love and kindness freely. Even as Alzheimer's took his memory in his final years, it could not take who he was at his core. Love remained. Everyone around him felt it, and it never left him.
Tom was born on June 15, 1943, in Salt Lake City to Tharold "Tay" Green and Vera June Erickson Green. His father was his hero. He spoke of him often and with deep admiration, and the skills and values he learned at his side shaped how Tom moved through the world for the rest of his life. His father worked for the Salt Lake City Fire Department, and Tom remembered riding along in the fire truck as a boy while his father mapped hydrant locations across the city. When Tom was serving his mission in Belgium and France for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he received word that his father was dying of cancer. His father asked him to stay and finish. Tom did. He was able to speak with him before he passed, and he carried that season with him for the rest of his life. Decades later, he and Karen returned to France to serve a second mission together in Lyon, an experience they both treasured.
Tom attended the University of Utah, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. For more than two decades he worked in manufacturing and project management, spending much of his career at Hercules. He had a way of making complex problems feel manageable, and colleagues came to rely on him for steady judgment and practical guidance. He also served in the United States Army Intelligence Branch as a French linguist, a skill rooted in his years in Belgium and France.
Tom met Karen at the University of Utah, and she became the great love of his life. He introduced her to everyone he met as "my sweetheart," and he meant it every time. He told her he loved her every day. His care and devotion to her stayed in the forefront of his mind even when all other memories were fading. His concern for his sweetheart was among the last things he was able to express.
Tom and Karen raised seven children: Cari (Ka'i), Cristi, Cheri (Jeremy), Thomas Jr. (Kat), Chad (Marci), Mark (Liz), and Travis (Jan). When he came home from work, the front door would fly open and children would run to meet his outstretched arms. His grandchildren did the same years later. Tom loved children, and they loved him. Even the youngest could sense something genuine in him and felt at ease in his presence. He loved road trips, campouts, museums, and historical sites, and he read every plaque and marker along the way. He had a playful, genuine sense of humor that surfaced naturally and often, and his family remembers the laughter he brought into ordinary moments.
Tom's faith was visible and genuine. It guided how he approached people and showed in everything he did. He served as a bishop, high counselor, stake young men's president, and scout leader, among many other roles. Beyond any formal calling, he simply showed up. He took out neighbors' garbage cans, shoveled sidewalks, mowed lawns, visited widows and widowers, and took the fatherless under his wing. He spent countless hours with people who needed comfort. For Tom, serving others was not something he decided to do. It was simply who he was.
In his final years in memory care, that same quality remained. He welcomed newcomers, sat with those who were confused or distressed, and held the hands of residents who were dying, staying with them and their families for hours. Caregivers spoke of his warmth, his humor, and the way he thanked them for their patience. Many have stayed in touch with his family since his passing.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents Tharold and June, his stepfather Joseph Parker, his brothers Terry and John, Terry's wife Sharon, and his grandson Michael Jacobsen.
He is survived by his beloved wife Karen, his seven children, 23 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and many others whose lives were made richer by knowing him.
Funeral services will be held at the Canyon Rim Stake Center, 3051 S. 2900 E., SLC, UT 84109: Viewing from 11 - 11:45, Service from 12 to 1 PM, and Interment at 2:00 PM at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 Highland Dr. (1495 East) Millcreek, UT 84106.
Zoom Link for Funeral Services:
https://zoom.us/j/99327405504
Family luncheon provided by the Canyon Rim 4th Ward Relief Society, at the Stake Center following graveside services.
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