L. Wynn Johnson

20 Apr L. Wynn Johnson

1943 – 2022

    Louis Wynn Johnson, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on April 15, 2022 with his family at his side. Possessed of unfailing good humor and a unique ability to connect with others, Wynn opened his heart and home to many.  It was a highly preferred gathering place for his sons’ friends who often ‘shopped’ the pantry.   Their house was dubbed “The Johnson Home for Boys” by extended family and everyone came from near and far for fun and high adventure.  In the past decade, Pam and Wynn reached beyond family and welcomed young friends from Canada, Japan, Congo, Mexico, Pakistan, and beyond for weeks, months or years, dispensing home cooking, loving concern, professional advice, and practical support for their goals. 

    Wynn was born in Logan, Utah, on Christmas Eve 1943 to Margene Hall Johnson. His father, Army Air Corps pilot Louis Johnson, had died in a training accident eight months earlier so he grew up in his mother’s family home in Logan, surrounded by her loving sisters and parents.   When he was 6 years old, Wynn was delighted to welcome Eugene Liljenquist as his stepfather.

    Wynn’s education began in a one room school in Palisades, Wyoming, then continued in Clearfield. He moved with his family to Logan in 1959 and graduated from Logan High School. He excelled in debate, served as Senior Class President, sang and played the guitar in The Ramblers, a male singing group, and made wonderful lifelong friends. Wynn served a mission to Berlin, Germany from 1963-65, and had tales to tell of passing through the Berlin Wall at Checkpoint Charlie to minister to church members in East Berlin. He returned to USU where he studied economics and was active in student government.

    The purchase of a used water-ski boat was a highlight of Wynn’s college years and the genesis of many boating adventures and happy memories shared with friends and family. From Bear Lake to Cutler Reservoir to Lake Powell, he spent hundreds of hours driving boats and dragging kids on tubes. After everyone else had a turn, he liked to finish the day, all smiles at the end of the ski rope, cutting graceful turns on his slalom ski as the sun set.

     Wynn married Pamela Daines on June 25, 1968 in the Logan Temple and they loved their newlywed year in beautiful Boston where he completed his MBA at Harvard University in 1969.  Two years of Army service followed, including a 13-month hardship tour in Korea and the birth of two sons. Fresh out of the Army, Wynn determined that he wanted to try teaching and was hired by the University of Utah to teach finance. He did additional graduate work at UCLA, enjoyed interacting with students, and won awards for his prowess in the classroom, but business opportunities beckoned. 

    Wynn became one of the founding partners of Bonneville Pacific in 1980. The company developed 34 independent electric plants across the United States including hydroelectric, cogeneration, wind, and geothermal and most are still operating and producing power. 

    Long-term residents of the upper Avenues area of SLC, Pam and Wynn’s family life grew to include six sons, countless sporting events, community volunteering and dedicated church service. Wynn was a singles ward bishop for three tiring but rewarding years and he and Pam served a senior mission, both teaching classes at The Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship at BYU Hawaii in 2011-12.  

    Wynn is survived by Pam, their sons and wives: Michael (Regina), David (Bekah), Matthew (Amy), Daniel (Sue), Peter (Kristin) and Benjamin (Eliza), 27 grandchildren, 1 great granddaughter, his younger brother and sister, Byron Liljenquist and Victoria Liljenquist, and many loving nieces and nephews he taught to water ski. 

    Wynn’s family will welcome visitors on Friday, April 22, 6:30 to 8:00 at City View Mortuary, 1001 E 11^th Avenue, Salt Lake City and from 10:00 to 11:30 on Saturday, April 23 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Hilltop Ward Chapel, 589 18^th Avenue, Salt Lake City.  His funeral will be held at 12:00  with interment at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. 

   In memory of Wynn consider donations to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Humanitarian Fund or EntraideUS, Inc., a Brazzaville, Congo nonprofit 501(c)(3) that empowers Congolese men and women through business, tech, and entrepreneurship training.  Wynn and Pam have worked closely with Entraide since 2011 and serve on the Board of Directors. entraidecongo@gmail.com

Recorded funeral video:

https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/MKXSDS2KX4D44PQB