John Thomas Balle
1949 - 2022
❦ Early Life: John was born on July 7, 1949, in Richfield, Utah, to Harry Reed and Berniece Hacking Balle. He was the youngest of five children: Harry, Karleen, Mayleen and James. As a child, he grew up in East Carbon City, Utah, and spent his summers in Glenwood, Utah. John was an incredible athlete as a youth—an all-state discus thrower in high school and competed in other sports such as wrestling, baseball, and football. A devastating knee injury in his senior year would eventually end his sporting career. John graduated second in his class from Carbon High School in 1967. To his chagrin, his twin brother, James, claimed the valedictorian spot.
❦ Life's Work | Service | Interests: John graduated with honors from the College of Eastern Utah with an Associate of Science degree. He would later serve a mission in the Gulf States for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While serving his mission, he met his future wife, a fellow missionary, Paulette Riggs Bankhead. John and Paulette married on February 11, 1972, in the Logan Utah Temple. In 1978, they built their home in Cedar Fort, Utah. This small community would be where they raised their seven daughters. John even spent one term serving as the Cedar Fort mayor, after becoming a write-in candidate. He spent over 30 years working in residential home painting, owning his own company, JB Painting. Eventually, his youngest daughter, Amanda, would become his partner, working side by side to get the work done. In 1991, John lost his wife, Paulette, in a vehicle accident. Just over a year later, John would be reunited with a childhood friend, Elizabeth Anne Warner Wilson. John and Elizabeth married on December 23, 1992, which was later solemnized in the Jordan River Utah Temple in June of 1994. They eventually left Cedar Fort to finally settle in Salem, Utah. Although John was retired by this time, he found joy in serving as a temple worker in the Payson Utah Temple for several years. John will be remembered by family and friends as a man of many, many words; someone who always had a story to tell or a poem to recite. A man who was devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, John spent his life on a journey to learn and become a true disciple of the Lord. Over his lifetime, he had many talents, ranging from a self-proclaimed professional marble player to the creator of countless "Cowboy Poetry" verses. He will be dearly missed by all those who had the opportunity to know and love the man he became. On March 27, 2022, heaven welcomed home one of its great and faithful servants, John Thomas Balle. He was 72.
❦ Survived By: His wife, Elizabeth; daughters: Alisha (Jeremy) Hunter, Lehi, Utah; Amber Balle, Prescott Valley, Arizona; Amie (Jeff) Houghton, Lehi, Utah; Ashlee (Rick) Mangum, Chino Valley, Arizona; Andrea (Donnie) Hewes, California City, California; Anjalee Balle (Scott McMullin), Eagle Mountain, Utah; Amanda Balle, Pleasant Grove, Utah; son, Aaron Wilson, Salt Lake City, Utah; 17 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and sister, Mayleen (David) Hendricksen, Charleston, Utah.
❦ Predeceased By: His wife, Paulette; parents, Harry Reed Sr. and Berniece; brothers, Harry Reed Jr. and James; and sister, Karleen.
❦ Services: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
❦ Location: Knoll Park Ward Chapel | Salem, Utah
❦ Obituary: © 2022 | Wing Mortuary
❦ Interment: Cedar Fort Cemetery
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
1949 - 2022
❦ Early Life: John was born on July 7, 1949, in Richfield, Utah, to Harry Reed and Berniece Hacking Balle. He was the youngest of five children: Harry, Karleen, Mayleen and James. As a child, he grew up in East Carbon City, Utah, and spent his summers in Glenwood, Utah. John was an incredible athlete as a youth—an all-state discus thrower in high school and competed in other sports such as wrestling, baseball, and football. A devastating knee injury in his senior year would eventually end his sporting career. John graduated second in his class from Carbon High School in 1967. To his chagrin, his twin brother, James, claimed the valedictorian spot.
❦ Life's Work | Service | Interests: John graduated with honors from the College of Eastern Utah with an Associate of Science degree. He would later serve a mission in the Gulf States for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While serving his mission, he met his future wife, a fellow missionary, Paulette Riggs Bankhead. John and Paulette married on February 11, 1972, in the Logan Utah Temple. In 1978, they built their home in Cedar Fort, Utah. This small community would be where they raised their seven daughters. John even spent one term serving as the Cedar Fort mayor, after becoming a write-in candidate. He spent over 30 years working in residential home painting, owning his own company, JB Painting. Eventually, his youngest daughter, Amanda, would become his partner, working side by side to get the work done. In 1991, John lost his wife, Paulette, in a vehicle accident. Just over a year later, John would be reunited with a childhood friend, Elizabeth Anne Warner Wilson. John and Elizabeth married on December 23, 1992, which was later solemnized in the Jordan River Utah Temple in June of 1994. They eventually left Cedar Fort to finally settle in Salem, Utah. Although John was retired by this time, he found joy in serving as a temple worker in the Payson Utah Temple for several years. John will be remembered by family and friends as a man of many, many words; someone who always had a story to tell or a poem to recite. A man who was devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, John spent his life on a journey to learn and become a true disciple of the Lord. Over his lifetime, he had many talents, ranging from a self-proclaimed professional marble player to the creator of countless "Cowboy Poetry" verses. He will be dearly missed by all those who had the opportunity to know and love the man he became. On March 27, 2022, heaven welcomed home one of its great and faithful servants, John Thomas Balle. He was 72.
❦ Survived By: His wife, Elizabeth; daughters: Alisha (Jeremy) Hunter, Lehi, Utah; Amber Balle, Prescott Valley, Arizona; Amie (Jeff) Houghton, Lehi, Utah; Ashlee (Rick) Mangum, Chino Valley, Arizona; Andrea (Donnie) Hewes, California City, California; Anjalee Balle (Scott McMullin), Eagle Mountain, Utah; Amanda Balle, Pleasant Grove, Utah; son, Aaron Wilson, Salt Lake City, Utah; 17 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and sister, Mayleen (David) Hendricksen, Charleston, Utah.
❦ Predeceased By: His wife, Paulette; parents, Harry Reed Sr. and Berniece; brothers, Harry Reed Jr. and James; and sister, Karleen.
❦ Services: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
❦ Location: Knoll Park Ward Chapel | Salem, Utah
❦ Obituary: © 2022 | Wing Mortuary
❦ Interment: Cedar Fort Cemetery
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
John Thomas Balle
1949 - 2022
❦ Early Life: John was born on July 7, 1949, in Richfield, Utah, to Harry Reed and Berniece Hacking Balle. He was the youngest of five children: Harry, Karleen, Mayleen and James. As a child, he grew up in East Carbon City, Utah, and spent his summers in Glenwood, Utah. John was an incredible athlete as a youth—an all-state discus thrower in high school and competed in other sports such as wrestling, baseball, and football. A devastating knee injury in his senior year would eventually end his sporting career. John graduated second in his class from Carbon High School in 1967. To his chagrin, his twin brother, James, claimed the valedictorian spot.
❦ Life's Work | Service | Interests: John graduated with honors from the College of Eastern Utah with an Associate of Science degree. He would later serve a mission in the Gulf States for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While serving his mission, he met his future wife, a fellow missionary, Paulette Riggs Bankhead. John and Paulette married on February 11, 1972, in the Logan Utah Temple. In 1978, they built their home in Cedar Fort, Utah. This small community would be where they raised their seven daughters. John even spent one term serving as the Cedar Fort mayor, after becoming a write-in candidate. He spent over 30 years working in residential home painting, owning his own company, JB Painting. Eventually, his youngest daughter, Amanda, would become his partner, working side by side to get the work done. In 1991, John lost his wife, Paulette, in a vehicle accident. Just over a year later, John would be reunited with a childhood friend, Elizabeth Anne Warner Wilson. John and Elizabeth married on December 23, 1992, which was later solemnized in the Jordan River Utah Temple in June of 1994. They eventually left Cedar Fort to finally settle in Salem, Utah. Although John was retired by this time, he found joy in serving as a temple worker in the Payson Utah Temple for several years. John will be remembered by family and friends as a man of many, many words; someone who always had a story to tell or a poem to recite. A man who was devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, John spent his life on a journey to learn and become a true disciple of the Lord. Over his lifetime, he had many talents, ranging from a self-proclaimed professional marble player to the creator of countless "Cowboy Poetry" verses. He will be dearly missed by all those who had the opportunity to know and love the man he became. On March 27, 2022, heaven welcomed home one of its great and faithful servants, John Thomas Balle. He was 72.
❦ Survived By: His wife, Elizabeth; daughters: Alisha (Jeremy) Hunter, Lehi, Utah; Amber Balle, Prescott Valley, Arizona; Amie (Jeff) Houghton, Lehi, Utah; Ashlee (Rick) Mangum, Chino Valley, Arizona; Andrea (Donnie) Hewes, California City, California; Anjalee Balle (Scott McMullin), Eagle Mountain, Utah; Amanda Balle, Pleasant Grove, Utah; son, Aaron Wilson, Salt Lake City, Utah; 17 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and sister, Mayleen (David) Hendricksen, Charleston, Utah.
❦ Predeceased By: His wife, Paulette; parents, Harry Reed Sr. and Berniece; brothers, Harry Reed Jr. and James; and sister, Karleen.
❦ Services: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
❦ Location: Knoll Park Ward Chapel | Salem, Utah
❦ Obituary: © 2022 | Wing Mortuary
❦ Interment: Cedar Fort Cemetery
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
1949 - 2022
❦ Early Life: John was born on July 7, 1949, in Richfield, Utah, to Harry Reed and Berniece Hacking Balle. He was the youngest of five children: Harry, Karleen, Mayleen and James. As a child, he grew up in East Carbon City, Utah, and spent his summers in Glenwood, Utah. John was an incredible athlete as a youth—an all-state discus thrower in high school and competed in other sports such as wrestling, baseball, and football. A devastating knee injury in his senior year would eventually end his sporting career. John graduated second in his class from Carbon High School in 1967. To his chagrin, his twin brother, James, claimed the valedictorian spot.
❦ Life's Work | Service | Interests: John graduated with honors from the College of Eastern Utah with an Associate of Science degree. He would later serve a mission in the Gulf States for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While serving his mission, he met his future wife, a fellow missionary, Paulette Riggs Bankhead. John and Paulette married on February 11, 1972, in the Logan Utah Temple. In 1978, they built their home in Cedar Fort, Utah. This small community would be where they raised their seven daughters. John even spent one term serving as the Cedar Fort mayor, after becoming a write-in candidate. He spent over 30 years working in residential home painting, owning his own company, JB Painting. Eventually, his youngest daughter, Amanda, would become his partner, working side by side to get the work done. In 1991, John lost his wife, Paulette, in a vehicle accident. Just over a year later, John would be reunited with a childhood friend, Elizabeth Anne Warner Wilson. John and Elizabeth married on December 23, 1992, which was later solemnized in the Jordan River Utah Temple in June of 1994. They eventually left Cedar Fort to finally settle in Salem, Utah. Although John was retired by this time, he found joy in serving as a temple worker in the Payson Utah Temple for several years. John will be remembered by family and friends as a man of many, many words; someone who always had a story to tell or a poem to recite. A man who was devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, John spent his life on a journey to learn and become a true disciple of the Lord. Over his lifetime, he had many talents, ranging from a self-proclaimed professional marble player to the creator of countless "Cowboy Poetry" verses. He will be dearly missed by all those who had the opportunity to know and love the man he became. On March 27, 2022, heaven welcomed home one of its great and faithful servants, John Thomas Balle. He was 72.
❦ Survived By: His wife, Elizabeth; daughters: Alisha (Jeremy) Hunter, Lehi, Utah; Amber Balle, Prescott Valley, Arizona; Amie (Jeff) Houghton, Lehi, Utah; Ashlee (Rick) Mangum, Chino Valley, Arizona; Andrea (Donnie) Hewes, California City, California; Anjalee Balle (Scott McMullin), Eagle Mountain, Utah; Amanda Balle, Pleasant Grove, Utah; son, Aaron Wilson, Salt Lake City, Utah; 17 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and sister, Mayleen (David) Hendricksen, Charleston, Utah.
❦ Predeceased By: His wife, Paulette; parents, Harry Reed Sr. and Berniece; brothers, Harry Reed Jr. and James; and sister, Karleen.
❦ Services: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
❦ Location: Knoll Park Ward Chapel | Salem, Utah
❦ Obituary: © 2022 | Wing Mortuary
❦ Interment: Cedar Fort Cemetery
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
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MARRIED FEB. 11, 1972
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