JoAnn Ek

Josephine Ann (JoAnn) Bodenhofer Ek was born on June 19, 1936, to James Lester Bodenhofer and Nellie Wanda Behunin. Surrounded by her family, she returned peacefully to her Father in Heaven on October 1, 2022.

She was married to her sweetheart, Marlin Eugene Ek in the Salt Lake Temple on August 25, 1955, and they created a beautiful life and family together, for 67 years. Mom was a loving spouse and mother, an accomplished homemaker who loved canning and gardening, and a skilled seamstress, which she put to good use. She had a quirky sense of humor, loved to camp, and travel, and had an adventuress spirit, but could never quite overcome her fear of thunderstorms. She also had a passion for researching family history and loved telling the stories of her family's heritage. She had a great love for reading, and a beautiful singing voice; but JoAnn's greatest love was for the Gospel and her family.

JoAnn and Marlin served two missions together for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; a service mission at the Humanitarian Center here in Salt Lake City, Utah, and then served a year in the Alabama Birmingham Mission, to help with the preservation of historical documents. During her life, she held several callings in the church within the relief society, primary and scouting organizations, which she thoroughly enjoyed, but her greatest calling was being a mother and grandmother. She also had several jobs throughout the years including starting a cleaning business with her sisters, selling real estate, and working as a travel agent, all of which she thrived at.

She is survived by her eternal partner, Marlin Ek; her 7 children Marla (Lynn) Bath, Marsha Hatch, Shawn (Madelyn) Ek, Kevin (Berdette) Ek, Debra (Steven) Bowen, Laura (Barry) Whitworth, Krista (Jason) Mathison; 24 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren; and her sisters Julia Bartholomew and Joyce Russell, who she loved dearly, and were her best friends.

She is preceded in death by grandson Aaron Hatch; and son-in-law, Thomas Hatch; sister Jeannie Schuster; and brothers James (Bill) Bodenhofer and John Bodenhofer.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road, Salt Lake City, Utah 84123. A short viewing will also be held on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., followed by the funeral services at 11:00 a.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meeting house located at 4986 S. Valois Drive, Taylorsville, Utah 84129. She will be interred at Elysian Burial Gardens located at 1075 E. 4580 S. Millcreek, Utah 84117 following the funeral services.